Field-Hockey, Track & Field
Favorite athlete: One of my favorite athletes is Lolo Jones, the Olympic hurdler. She comes from an unfortunate family life, but she has an amazing story of how self determined she was to make something of herself, and I have such great respect for her being able to motivate herself because that is so important not only in athletics, but in life.
Favorite team: My favorite team is definitely the Philadelphia Eagles!
Favorite memory competing in sports:This one is a hard one because sports have given me some of the best memories of my high school career. I'd say my favorite was playing Bensalem my second to last high school game ever because 1. It was a very well played game by my team, but more importantly 2. there was so much love on the field for one another. It was the kind of game that makes all the torture of preseason worth it and reminds you why you stuck around.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Statistically I'd say that on average I fall to the ground at least twice per game, and about 0% of the falls are even the least bit graceful so that's definitely a collection of embarrassing photos that I wish just did not exist.
Music on your iPod:Music is so important to me - I cannot stress that enough! Music plays a huge role in who I am, and at any given time I could be listening to any genre or artist. I absolutely love Twenty One Pilots, Billy Joel, The Fray, Paramore, Florence and the Machine, Ed Sheeran, Brad Paisley, Bob Dylan, Pink, Mulford and Sons, The Beatles and so much more!
Future plans: The dream is to become an occupational therapist and I hope to attend either the University of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia University.
Words to live by: "Everything always works out" I'm a firm believer that stressing does not help any situation and that in the end everything always works out the way it's supposed to be.
One goal before turning 30:A huge goal of mine is to be independent, which means owning my own car and my own home and not having to rely on anyone else! Also it would be cool if I found me a great guy and got married on the beach or something cool like that, but being independent is definitely #1 on the list!
One thing people don’t know about me:This is so embarrassing, but when I was in fourth and fifth grade, I had an obsession with Hilary Duff, the actress from the Disney show Lizzy McGuire! The obsession got to the point to when I introduced myself to people I never met for TWO years I told people that my name was Hilary because I wanted to be just like her. Update: I regret that poor decision I made at 9 years old and I am now over the obsession.
By Mary Jane Souder
Niyah Rhoades grew up listening to people say she was a “natural born leader.”
“To me, that only meant little kid things – like standing in line,” she said.
The William Tennent senior might not have taken those words to heart when she was a youngster, but they turned out to be prophetic. Rhoades was born to lead.
The president of her senior class, she is an officer in the National Honor Society and an editor on the yearbook staff. Rhoades is a member of Tennent’s Athletic Council and is active in student government. She also finds time to compete in field hockey as well as winter and spring track and field.
“As I got older, I really started to believe in myself,” Rhoades said. “I’ve always taken the lead – not in a controlling way but just in a more effective way.
“I know if I’m in charge things are going to happen. I like people, so I don’t have a problem taking that role.”
People also like Rhoades, and her selection as Homecoming Queen this fall is a testament to the high regard she is held in her school community.
“I know a lot of people, and people do like me, but it’s crazy to think they would actually vote for you out of six other very cool people,” Rhoades said. “I was ready to clap for someone else, but it ended up being me.
“I didn’t put a lot of thought into it, but I didn’t think I was going to win. It really was a surprise.”
At the hockey team’s recent year-end banquet, coach Kaitlyn Rauchut described her senior forward as professional. It’s not the kind of term usually thrown around about a high school athlete.
“Niyah is professional on the field, she’s professional off the field,” Rauchut said. “She’s everything that William Tennent represents – integrity, pride, sportsmanship.
“She’s intelligent, she leads by example, she’s very kind, she’s funny, she’s very well liked by her teammates. She’s an excellent role model.”
According to the Panthers’ coach, Rhoades’ high school journey didn’t always look like it would have such a happy ending.
“She was going down the wrong path, but she made some decisions to do the right thing,” Rauchut said. “If you saw her freshman year, you would never imagine the person she’s become.”
Rhoades admits her story could have had a much different ending.
“Unfortunately when I was younger, I just had the mindset that I could do whatever I wanted,” she said. “I wouldn't say I was a bad kid at all, I just occasionally made dumb decisions.”
That’s hardly unusual for a teenager, but what is unusual is the impetus for her turnaround.
“I completely turned things around solely because I wanted to be better,” Rhoades said. “I wanted to become a better person so I changed my mindset.
“I'm not nearly the person I was before, I am so much more positive and I'd say that my positivity has played the most influential role in my transition.”
*****
Niyah Rhoades didn’t grow up playing sports. She ran track the spring of her seventh grade year and then was convinced to go out for the hockey team the following fall.
“I played field hockey because my gym teacher begged me to go out for it,” she said. “I didn’t really want to play at all. I had no interest.”
That winter she tried out for the basketball team but was cut. By the following summer, she began to enjoy hockey.
“We scrimmaged with the upperclassmen during the summer, and I actually enjoyed it and had fun doing it,” Rhoades said. “Doing something you love is always a lot easier than doing something just to do it.”
A swing player as a sophomore, Rhoades was a key member of the varsity as a junior and senior, and although she experienced success in track, hockey became her passion for reasons that went well beyond her enjoyment of the sport.
“A lot of it had to do with my team,” she said. “As far as Tennent, we’re the closest team, hands down.
“We actually love each other, so that’s a big deal to be on the field with our communication and chemistry. I also like playing. I look forward to games. I like winning, I like scoring, I like being out there with my team. Even when we lose, we lose together.”
A young Panthers squad experienced growing pains this fall, but that didn’t dampen Rhoades’ spirits.
“We’re having fun, and we know everyone is giving 100 percent at all times, so it’s not like we’re goofing off and not caring,” she said. “I’m not going to be mad at you because I know you tried your hardest. It is what it is.
“I love every single girl on the team. Our banquet was the other day, and I just cried my eyes out knowing it was the last time I was ever playing. It’s crazy.”
Rhoades, who was raised by her grandmother, has had to deal with some adversity along the way, but she’s learned a work ethic that has served her well.
“Niyah is one of those kids – she works for everything she has,” Rauchut said. “She has a job, she plays sports, and she’s involved in all these activities. I’m extremely proud of her.
As for her future, Rhoades’ number one college choice is the University of Pittsburgh.
“I visited the campus,” she said. “I’m just a big fan, and I know they have a good program (in my major).
“I’m not looking to play hockey collegiately, but as far as club, I’d love to play. I enjoy the sport, and there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.”
Rhoades plans to major in health sciences and then pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
“I like helping people a lot, and I’ve always been interested in the body,” she said. “My original game plan was to be a surgeon, but that’s a lot of years of school.”
An excellent student, Rhoades is enrolled in honors and AP classes. She is a member of the German National Honor Society. She is the hostess at Perkins but still volunteers her time whenever she has a free minute.
“I volunteered at a day care for a while because I really love kids, and that was fun,” she said. “I was a camp counselor this summer, and I enjoyed that job a lot.
“I say yes to anybody, so if anyone asks me to do something, I always say yes.”
It’s hard to find anything that Rhoades doesn’t put a positive spin on, which doesn’t surprise her coach.
“She was a leader on the field,” Rauchut said. “Niyah is willing to push herself offensively and defensively at all cost on the field. I am truly inspired by Niyah’s efforts on and off the field.”
