Leesburg, Va. — Riverside High School sophomore Sydney Bednoski has made an early verbal commitment to continue her softball career at Bucknell University beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year.
“I chose Bucknell because I absolutely loved the coaches and the school,” the 5-foot-5 Bednoski said. “Coach Lye and Coach Burns are so welcoming, and I can tell that they care about their players on and off the field.”
[adrotate banner=”9″]Bednoski will be joining a Division I Bison team that had a 27-23-1 record in 2018 and was 13-5 in the Patriot League. Under head coach Joey Lye and assistant Matt Burns, Bednoski hopes to bring her attitude and talent to Bucknell to help the Bison moving forward.
“I think I will add support and love to the team,” Bednoski added. “I also have a very positive attitude towards all things, and I think that will be something I add to the team as well. I am so excited to be a part of the Bison family.”
Before she heads to Bucknell, however, Bednoski will finish out her career at Riverside and hopes to lead the Rams to the Dulles District tournament championship in 2019.
“Playing for Riverside has been great,” Bednoski said. “I love all the girls on the team, and I have formed amazing relationships with them. I am so beyond excited for the upcoming season. I can tell that we will grow as a team this season and that we will work harder than we ever have before.”
Softball has always been an important part of Bednoski’s life. She began playing at a young age, and it has been a prime motivating factor in her life.
“I started playing softball when I was six years old. I was on a house league team called Lightning, and I am still very close friends with some of the people that were on that team with me,” Bednoski said. ” I play softball because it gives me friendships that I will never forget, and it takes me to exciting places all around the country.”
Her friends and family have always supported her, and in 2019, her dad Kevin will lead the Rams into battle as Riverside’s first-year head coach.
As much as softball keeps Bednoski motivated, it also makes her competitive, so that she can be the best that she can be.
“I love to compete, and I feel like softball is a great thing to take my competitive energy out on,” Bednoski said. “My drive to grow as a person and a player is what motivates me every day. My friends and family also motivate me to work harder and be a better athlete.”
