'Iron Athlete' Riley New leaves lasting legacy at Fox Lane

 At Fox Lane High School, they have a label they reserve for its finest student-athletes: They call them ‘Iron Athletes' and only the toughest, most team-oriented are stamped as such.

Three-sport sensation Riley New is in that select group. New earned All-Section honors in flag football and basketball (twice) while securing All-League honors in cross country.

New wasn’t just an ‘Iron Athlete'; she was the blueprint for what Fox Lane means when it stamps that label on someone. She embodied leadership at the two positions where authority is non‑negotiable — quarterback and point guard — while running cross country with the grit of someone who refused to break. 

The people who coached her didn’t just see a talented kid; they saw a generational athlete whose instincts, poise, and competitive wiring were rare by Section 1 standards. 

“Riley had a tremendous season playing the hardest position in sports and picking it up incredibly quickly,” said Fox Lane flag football coach Rylan Borror. “She led our program to an eight-win improvement from our first season into our second season. She’s a smart player who only got better with every rep.”

Statistically, New, as elusive as any QB in the section, had an unbelievable flag football season with over 1,000 yards both rushing and passing, including over 30 combined touchdowns. She added eight interceptions as a cornerback as well—all while being a premier student in the classroom.

“On top of her stellar play, Riley is an incredibly hard worker,” Borror said of the Muhlenberg College-bound New. “And nothing speaks to that more than the fact that she didn’t miss one second of any practice, scrimmage, film session, or game during the season. We call that an ‘Iron Athlete’ in our program, and she represented that to a tee.”

New's combination of passing and running ability allowed Fox Lane to make the option formation a devastating weapon on offense.

“She executed our offense at an incredibly high level and was truly a dual threat,” Borror said. 

Her toughness was never doubted by any of her coaches or teammates.

“With so many rushes, came a lot of falls,” Borror said. “Each time, Riley popped right up and moved on to the next play. An iron athlete if I’ve ever seen one.”

The New family has done nothing but produce top-notch athletes, with Riley following in her brother Kevin’s footsteps and senior-to-be sister, Dylan, following in hers.

“I got a close-up look at watching her and her brother during their basketball careers,” Borror said. “As an assistant coach for the boys basketball team, one of my favorite players I ever got to coach was Kevin New, Riley’s brother. What I always loved about Kevin was how coachable he was and how hard he worked.

"I was always hopeful I could coach Riley for similar reasons," Borror added. "What I always respected most about Riley’s game was how hard she played and how she would do anything to win. I was lucky enough to experience it in one season and will always be thankful for how she helped push our program forward. She was a pleasure to coach and will be missed incredibly. Any athlete should strive to match the work ethic that Riley showed up with day in and day out.” 

On the hardwood, New finished her five-year career just shy of 1,000 points (982), which she could have easily achieved had she changed her selfless style of play. She added the things coach Kristopher Matts called essential to any team's success: 315 rebounds, 184 steals, 278 deflections and 204 assists.

When Matts initially met New as a prodigious eighth-grader, he was coming off serious health concerns so serious his doctors suggested taking time off to avoid the tension of coaching.

“When we were just emerging from COVID, I was a year out from open-heart surgery,” Matts said. “My cardiologist encouraged me to cut down on things that caused stress. He actually warned me specifically about coaching. I assured him that as a coach and teacher, I favor routine, predictability and control.

"This is when I met an eighth-grader named Riley New, and it occurred to me, ‘So this is how I’m going to die’—because Riley does not do predictable things and her control of a game is reliant on chaos, passion and will. She creates the first – control – by using the second two.”

As a result, New quickly emerged as a game-changer without peer.

“Simply put, Riley is the most intense athlete I have ever coached,” Matts said. “She obviously made our offense run as the point guard, but she was also the tip of the spear defensively.”

In her senior year, New averaged 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, four deflections, and three steals a game. She was fearless on defense, standing in to take five charging fouls.

“Those are stats she is proud of but that also made me nervous, especially considering if she was injured, because she just played through the pain,” Matts said. “I am convinced she played the 2024-25 season with a cracked rib, but she just did what she always does; she put her head down, took a deep breath, and gutted it out."

New's mental approach was just as important.

"She is also an impressive student of the game, able to break down opponents' strengths and weaknesses in real time as well as during film sessions," Matts said. "So, when Riley had an idea during practice or a playoff game, I listened. Nobody I have ever coached plays harder than she does, which is one of the many reasons Muhlenberg is lucky to be getting her next season.”

Of all the many skills that New possesses, hiding her emotions is not one of them. She wears her heart on her sleeve. New can do a dozen things better than anyone else, but hiding her emotions? Not even close. Her expressions announce her mood like a billboard. The core idea being: She doesn’t hide joy, frustration, pride, disappointment, or passion; it’s all right there, visible and honest. 

“That’s why, even with COVID masks on, I could tell when I was annoying her,” Matts said. “Early on, she was very polite about drills she didn’t like, plays I shouldn’t call, or defenses I shouldn’t run, but the roll of the eyes, the eyebrows tilting aslant, and the tight-lipped nod left little to the imagination. But as we had gotten to know each other, our bond has allowed her to feel more comfortable pointing out that I’m an idiot sometimes. You just need the Riley translation. 

“'I think they’re playing zone,' means ‘It’s a zone, moron, stop calling man-to-man plays,’” he added. “'What are your thoughts on taking the press off?' meant, ‘The press hasn’t worked for the entire game, which I figured out in the first minute. Wake up!’”

Injuries and hard times never stopped New from going 110 percent. She pushed through every setback like it’s just another checkpoint, refusing to let pain, doubt, or circumstance slow the engine she’s built inside herself. 

“She would say, ‘Matts, I’m fine,’ which means, 'If you take me out of the game, I will murder you,'" Matts said. “In 23 years, I’ve never coached or even seen a player compete harder than Riley New. She has slapped hundreds of courts in frustration after diving for a loose ball, but that frustration never leads to resignation. Her drive lifts everyone’s levels, including the coaches. Her fire fuels the engine of our teams, which is why we may win games and we may lose them, but we never run out of gas.” 

She gave her coaches and teammates a run for their money, that’s for sure.

“I still never know what she will do next,” Matts said, “but I do know she wants success. She will stalk it, corner it, trap it, and dive for it, and when I think of life here at Fox Lane without her, my heart is in trouble again, but for entirely different reasons.” 

New’s body had taken its hits on her path, but she’s never known anything less than full throttle. Riley New, No. 2 on your scorecard, was quite the pip during an established, three‑sport varsity career—one her coaches and Fox Lane’s fan base will long recall. She wasn’t just a participant across seasons, she was a presence, the kind of athlete whose energy, instincts, and competitive bite stitched her into the fabric of every team she touched. Here’s a chance to learn more about what makes her tick. 
What was the most challenging part of high school for you? It was definitely the mental aspect of it all. I struggled a lot with confidence on the court, and I went through long periods of time that I wasn’t playing to my full potential. I was able to gain more confidence through my teammates, coaches, and by making winning plays, which really helped me be able to compete and succeed at my best effort. 

What’s your favorite memory of your time at Fox Lane? Definitely being able to play multiple seasons across basketball and lacrosse with my younger sister Dylan. She's a year younger than me and we’ve been so close our whole lives, but getting to play high school sports with her was super special. We always played with each other in practice during CYO and never got the chance to work together in games, but my sophomore year when she got to varsity with me on the court and the field was such a fun experience. 

What did being named a Fox Lane team captain mean to you? It truly meant a lot to me. I didn’t see it much as a title, but more of a responsibility to lead and live by example. I felt like I worked really hard for it and I was a vocal point of the team, so it felt like a reward to have the honor. Being a role model was always something I wanted to be to the younger girls watching, and I feel like by the time my career ended I’m now able to say that I was looked up to. 

What drew you to flag football? Flag football has always been super cool to me since the beginning of it becoming popular amongst high school girls. I never grew up watching football, we’ve always been a basketball/lacrosse family, but flag really caught my eye. I played lacrosse starting in kindergarten, all my siblings and cousins played, so it was always in my life, but my sophomore year when it was an intramural at school I was so intrigued. I wanted to play (in 2025), but decided to stick with lacrosse, but towards the end of last spring I was so locked in on playing flag football senior year. It was probably one of the most fun experiences I had in high school and a lot of that was because of the coaches and the girls. It was an awesome group of athletes who all worked so hard to be able to make it to the second round of playoffs even though it was over half the team's first year playing. Coach Borror really bought in and was the heart of the team to help us be so successful. 

Why did you decide to play at Muhlenberg College? When I was visiting schools, I kept feeling like something was missing. One school I loved the coach but the team wasn’t my favorite, the other one I didn’t really love the campus, and another I didn’t feel like I fit in. But when I got to Muhlenberg I felt like I belonged and I loved the energy coach Sadie brought. She's a young, enthusiastic and hard-working coach that I can see myself working really well with for the next four years. When I watched a practice, the girls all had smiles on their faces the whole two hours, and it was obvious that they loved each other and loved the school. 

College major intentions? I'm going in undecided, but I plan on majoring in health sciences or psychology to later become a pediatric occupational therapist. I’ve always loved working with kids and helping people, so when I was first introduced to this profession I fell in love. I did an internship with Kristin Messina at BVES in the spring and it made me love it even more. I was able to see how the career is and all the creativity and work that goes into it. 

What do you see yourself accomplishing in five to 10 years? I see myself graduating college and finding a job either at an elementary school or at an OT clinic. I'm excited for the future and I think any path I choose I will be able to adapt and succeed. 

Has particular teacher or coach had an especially big impact on you? Definitely. I was able to meet Mrs. Daros in my eighth-grade year as my JV lacrosse coach. From the beginning I could tell I would really like her. She brought great energy to the team and she was young and relatable to us. That year was easily my favorite lacrosse season I ever had because of her. She was then my freshman year geometry teacher and I enjoyed her class so much. I’ve never been the best at math, but she was able to help me and teach me the material in different ways to help me understand it better. I am so lucky and grateful to have had such a special connection with a teacher and coach, and she has made me a better person throughout all the lessons she has taught me. 

People are so divided these days, what trait do you possess that might unify us? I consider myself as very easy going and I go with the flow. I have strong opinions, but I think that I know whether or not something is worth the fight. I think that if everyone was able to have more of an open mindset to anything, it would help unify us. 

Name a chore that you hate: Laundry. I have so many clothes and I find myself doing laundry and putting away clothes almost every day. 

Favorite place to visit: I don’t travel that much, but I go to Rhode Island for the fourth of July every summer with my friend Abby and her family. That’s been such a fun trip every time we go and we met a group of friends there five years ago that we hang out with every Fourth. It's such a special trip and we’ve been going all of high school together so it’s always a good time. 

Hobbies outside of sports: I love to do hair and I have two sisters that let me braid or curl their hair all the time. I also really love to drive around with friends and get ice cream. I shop way too much, I color, and I’ve been trying to learn sign language.

Who are your role models? My dad is probably the most important role model I've had. He showed me so much of what a real man should be and he is someone I am so grateful for. The amount of things and lessons he has taught – not only me but all my siblings – is insane. I was also lucky enough to have him be my first basketball coach where I watched him coach me and all my friends with the best attitude and coaching style. He is easily my favorite coach I’ve had and his support and love for me has carried me through life. He has been there for every game I’ve ever played, drove me hours for tournaments in the summer, left work to come to a game, and done everything in between to make me the person and player I am today. 

Best slice of pizza in Bedford/Mt.Kisco area? Grandma slice from Gerardos 

Favorite local restaurant? Dinardos in Pound Ridge

What do you do in your free time? If it’s winter, I am definitely going to the mall and shopping with my sister, then getting ice cream after. In the summer I love to tan and go to the beach with my friends. 

What are you an expert at? Braiding hair. I started to braid in middle school and I got really good at it and always braided everyone's for game day. 

What are you not nearly an expert at? I’m pretty bad at spelling and also getting places. I’m such a slow texter because I always need to spellcheck. And I also need directions even if I'm going somewhere 15 minutes away.

Favorite pre-game ritual: Candy. I eat so much candy during basketball season it’s not even funny. I always have at least three bags of candy in my basketball bag. I eat a bag before every game, but I always change it up. My favorites are definitely nerds gummy clusters and air head extreme bites, but I love any type of gummy or sour candy. 

Favorite music/band: I love country music and I think my favorite artist is probably Chris Stapleton. 

What’s your favorite sport to play? And your favorite sport to watch? Flag football was definitely the most fun I’ve had playing; basketball is a close second. I love to watch basketball—mostly women's college games. 

Favorite professional athlete: LaMelo Ball. I started watching him in middle school and I loved the way he played. He’s also super funny and carefree, which I relate to. I watch YouTube videos of him sometimes and he's great. His basketball style is also very unique and I’d love to be able to play like him someday. 

Favorite pro and/or college team: My favorite pro team would have to be the N.Y. Knicks, and my favorite college team is probably the UConn women’s team because I love their team chemistry and I also love their winning standards and mindsets.