Senior Salute - Riley Thorr

Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Riley Thorr, a biology major from Frankfort, Michigan. Thorr is a member of the women's basketball and women's golf teams.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster because it offered me the opportunity to receive a great education while playing the sports I love. I immediately felt welcomed by the team on my first visit and could see myself fitting in. The campus is beautiful, and the resources are unmatched.

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Very few athletes have the opportunity to play in college and I feel very proud that I have been able to compete in two sports for the last four years.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories at Wooster have been traveling to Hilton Head Island with the golf team for spring break each year, spending time in Ireland with the golf team, breaking a golf team record in fall of 2022, qualifying for North Coast Athletic Conference basketball tournament in 2022, spending time with my basketball teammates over winter break, and celebrating our seniors on I.S. Monday!

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a Wooster student-athlete is that my teammates have become some of my best friends. I felt like I had built-in best friends the minute I stepped onto campus as a first-year.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Pre-Health Club. I'm also a peer health educator and the campus captain for The Hidden Opponent.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Coach Lisa Campanell Komara because I have always felt supported by her both in golf and otherwise. I'm so glad that I decided to play golf at Wooster. I truly believe I'm "on her roster forever."

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: My academic and Independent Study advisor Dr. Nick Brandley has guided me through my journey in the biology department. I have appreciated his guidance in the classes I have taken with him, his assistance with my I.S. research, and everything else he has helped me with.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My Independent Study explores how different stressful events throughout the semester influence the heart rate and sleeping patterns of NCAA Div. III female student-athletes. My research participants include my basketball teammates. Heart rate data is collected from Fitbit watches and sleeping patterns and perceived stress levels are quantified by self-reported surveys. I will analyze if heart rate and sleep are useful indicators of stress levels.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I joined an organization called The Hidden Opponent, which is a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness surrounding student-athlete mental health. My job as a campus captain is to attend and host events provided by THO and to do my part in increasing awareness on our campus and supporting my fellow Wooster student-athletes.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: Don't place too much pressure on yourself and make sure to enjoy these four years, because they fly by.

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