Auburn freshman Alyssa Rivera walked out of practice on Friday knowing she was going to have her first interview as a freshman at Auburn University.
“I’m so nervous, I think I’m nauseous,” she repeated.
Within seconds of asking how she is enjoying her first semester on the plains, her face lit up and the outfielder’s bubbly personality came out.
“I love it here. I love everything about it,” said Rivera. “The main reason is because we are just one big family. We are all one and I love being a part of a community like that.”
Unity is the reason why the 18-year-old chose Auburn and she knew it as soon as she attended her first camp.
The Florida native has been watching Auburn for a few years and with a big smile on her face, she couldn’t contain her giddiness talking about how excited she is to be a Tiger.
“It’s just so exciting and I love it so much,” she said. “Watching them last year and the year before and the year before, it’s just so exciting!”
Adding to the excitement of her first semester is her recent invitation to the USA Junior Women’s National Team selection camp at the end of the year.
“I’m very stoked about it and am very honored and very blessed to be one of the 20 girls invited,” she said.
Rivera said Coach Myers called her aside during practice and she immediately thought someone bad happened.
“It’s always nice to inform somebody of a compliment or an invite,” said Myers. “She’s got to go out there and prove herself but she’s a good player and she will represent well and we’re real excited for her.”
Rivera was in class and her phone buzzed with a text from Berg asking for her birthday.
“I sent her my birthday and I never heard anything back. I got an email a couple days later from Team USA and it said to check out the website so I did and my name was there. I was so happy, I cried,” she said.
Tryouts are in Clearwater, Fla., which is 45 minutes from Eagle Lake.
“I’ve played in Clearwater all my life,” said Rivera. “I would’ve never believed that I would have this opportunity and now that I do, there’s no turning back. You can only progress from here on out. I wholeheartedly believe that and I’m going to do it.”
Feature Image provided by Auburn Softball
