Oak Park High School has many ambitious and hard working athletes which make up the exciting school spirit and energizing sports games all throughout the year. To take a deeper dive into the OPHS varsity football team, junior Ryder Risty talks about the dedication and hard work it takes to be a part of this program.

“I have been playing football since my freshman year,” Risty said. “This year, I am really looking forward to this season. Even though we didn’t start off too strong going in, we recovered fast and are looking good for the rest of the year.”

Risty plays defensive end and offensive guard on the team. He is very committed to the team and balancing his schedule with football.

“I have learned a lot about structure. Coming home at eight o’clock every day and still having to do homework has taught me balance,” Risty said. “It is definitely worth the commitment, though; the amount of fun you have with the team is worth every second of work.”

One of Risty’s favorite memories was being on the team during his sophomore year when the team made a daring comeback during a very competitive game against Camarillo.

“We were down by six points with less than two minutes left on the clock and Camarillo had the ball,” Risty said. “I remember one of my teammates forced a fumble, and our team recovered it and scored, which secured us a win.”

Memorable moments like these are one of the many reasons why Risty loves the game and being on the team. 

“If you are coming into high school, be ready to have to balance school and sports. It is hard at the beginning, but it’s worth it in the end.”