It should come as no surprise that senior Erin Ball is Rye High’s Athlete of the Month, given the long list of her accomplishments on the volleyball court, where she’s starred as a ball-spiking middle for the Garnets, her Lower Hudson Volleyball Association and Chelsea Piers club teams, and on national U15, U16, U17, and now U18 teams.
What might be unexpected is that she didn’t earn January’s monthly honor for volleyball. Instead, Ball’s recognition by the school’s athletic department and the Rye Lions Club is for the winter indoor track and field season.
“Erin has been a great athlete and leader for our team,” said track and field coach Kevin Murphy. “She can fill into any event we need her to, but her main events this season have been high jump and long jump.”
Ball won league and Section 1 titles in high jump this season. In long jump, she set a school record of 17 feet, 8 inches last spring, and aims to go farther this year.
“Her hard work and determination are the main reasons behind her success,” Murphy said. “She gives 100 percent in practices and sees the result of that in meets.
“Erin was named as one of our winter captains, and this role has been extremely fitting for her. She does a lot of leading through example, and her positive energy allows her to be a great support to her teammates. She cheers at every meet for everyone and always wants the best for her teammates.”
A previous winner of Rye’s Athlete of the Week for her play on the volleyball court, Ball is following in the footsteps of older sister, Mara, now at Virginia Tech, who was also a Lions Club winner. As a National Honor Society member with a 97+ GPA who plans to major in business, Erin is still weighing her college options.
Her current favorite course at Rye is AP Government and Politics.
“It’s relevant to our lives now,” she said, “and Mr. (Daniel) Freeman makes it truly engaging.”
Outside of the classroom, one of Ball’s favorite activities is the Rye Boxing Club.
“I joined it in 2021 as a way to get a good workout — and because a couple of my friends were doing it,” she said. “But now, I wouldn’t miss a session.”
Her community service includes working as a Rye Recreation counselor for elementary school kids. She has been a CPR certified lifeguard at the Apawamis Club, served as a pitching instructor for Rye softball (a sport she also starred in at the varsity level before switching to track and field), and volunteered for flood relief work after Hurricane Ida.
Ball was asked this hypothetical question: What would you do if you were put on a train to Manhattan with $50 to spend?
“There are a couple of cool thrift shops in the city,” she replied. “I’d probably browse through a few of them for some neat old clothes.”
As with the other monthly winners, this victory makes Ball eligible to be named Rye’s Athlete of the Year at the Lions Club’s annual awards luncheon this spring.
