THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Riley finds her love for the game through setback

Sometimes, the biggest setback can lead to a better return.

It can cause you to grow as a player on the court, and a more well-rounded person off of it.

While it was something that took Taryn Riley off the court, her recovery and determination is what brought her back to the College of Idaho.

RILEY, A 5-foot-3 senior guard from Timberlake High, was late into her sophomore season when she tore her left ACL during a game in late January of 2023. 

“I was really determined to play again, and maybe a little obsessive over it,” Riley said. “But I worked really hard and wanted to try to get back before the start of my junior year.”

Her doctor had other plans.

“Every doctor tells you it’s a nine-month recovery, and I wanted to be back playing games early in the season,” Riley said. “Sometimes that doesn’t happen, even with the best of recoveries.”

Riley missed the 2023-24 season, then returned for the 2024-25 season.

“My recovery went the best it really could, and I worked really hard,” Riley said. “I honestly came back feeling stronger and better than I did before I tore my ACL. But I had a very conservative surgeon and we didn’t want to risk a re-tear and wanted me to wait longer to get back into live play, which he couldn’t force me, but I had to drop my pride and trust him. And it worked out for the best. Had I came back, I probably would have been more cautious and scared to play on it to be honest instead of coming back strong and carefree my senior year.”

Riley will play her final home game of her college career when the Yotes host Southern Oregon of Ashland, Ore., today at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center in Caldwell.

“Yes and no,” Riley said. “Being here, and thinking about it getting closer to being done with my last season, it makes me sad and emotional. But then, looking back, it feels like I’ve been here a long time. I’ve gotten to see a lot of different things, teams and experiences.”

College of Idaho is 20-7, 14-5 in the Cascade Conference, with the conference tournament to follow next week.

While sidelined with her injury, Riley was put on the hiring committee to interview and eventually hire former Pacific (Ore.) assistant coach Kyle Erickson in 2023.

“I was here my freshman and sophomore year under a different coach, and that was a big deal,” Riley said. “I loved my freshman and sophomore team and had a great relationship with my previous coach. But we had some problems in our program as well, but during my recovery I was asked to be on the hiring committee for the new coach and was able to look at all the options we had, and got to interview Kyle (Erickson, the current Yotes coach), which was a great experience and made me really confident about the next couple of years of me continuing to play here. He was my pick, so I was happy that everyone else wanted him as well.”

Riley, who led Timberlake High to state 3A titles in 2020 and 2021, did not suffer any major injuries during her time in Spirit Lake.

“The ACL thing was something I never thought I’d go through,” Riley said. “I didn’t have any major injuries in high school and my body has always been pretty good at healing itself, so the ACL thing was probably the biggest hardship and hardest year, but I’m thankful for it. It gave me more time and glad I got this fifth year, and had to be with a team that I love.”

And it’s been something that has made her stronger.

“It’s so easy to get your whole identity wrapped up in a sport,” Riley said. “Basketball meant so much to me, and having played it since I was 5 years old, basketball was my everything. When something is that important to you, you don’t just play it, you become it. My schedule, my goals, my friendships and relationships, even the way I measured my worth were all wrapped up in the game.”

Riley, nee Soumas, got married before arriving on campus, but has since divorced.

RILEY HAS started 25 games this season, and is averaging 6.7 points per game this season. She averaged 10.4 points per game as a sophomore during the 2022-23 season.

In the era of NIL and the transfer portal, Riley remained committed to College of Idaho.

“The thought entered my mind briefly, but never confidently,” Riley said. “I was never at the point where I really wanted to pursue that and look into it. When it did enter my mind, it was mainly during my year I was struggling. Other than that, I’ve been really confident in this place. It’s had it’s up and downs, but I love the people that I’ve built relationships with here. Just the vibe and culture of this place has always stood out to me.”

As for what’s next, Riley will graduate in May with a degree in business administration and return to Spirit Lake.

“I’ll have enough credits to take the CPA exam, and I’d like to become a tax accountant,” Riley said. My dad (Rob Soumas) is also doing taxes and works in the accounting field, so I’ll probably move home and work with him.”

It’s possible she’ll find her way back to the court.

“I’ve thought about coaching, but not sure about how I’d want to go about that,” Riley said. “Whether it’s high school or AAU, or just my nieces and nephews as they get older. I’ve thought about being a volunteer coach in college, but it’s not really a plan for me.”

One thing is for certain, Riley is enjoying everything about the final moments of her college career.

“Ever since then, I’ve been trying to shift my perspective from performance to purpose,” Riley said. “In these last moments, trying to remember the fun and joy competing in basketball brings to me. It’s much more enjoyable when you know where your true identity comes from, and my wish is that young athletes will figure this out before they get into their college career. Your time here is short, and one of the most enjoyable times you might get in life.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.  

    Riley

    Taryn Riley