The biggest achievement is just around the corner for UNM senior Chantale Riddle.
Yes, becoming a two-time All-American and breaking UNM volleyball records are big accomplishments but Friday afternoon will mean something much more for Riddle. She will be graduating from the University of New Mexico with a degree in family studies.
The Lobo will be walking across the graduation stage in WisePies Arena AKA The Pit at noon on Friday in front of her supporters; family, friends, coaches, teammates and administrators. She will walk with pride as she becomes the first one in her family to receive a college degree.
The degree has been the main goal for Riddle. Head volleyball coach Jeff Nelson has preached that to Riddle and her grandmother since day one of the recruiting process.
“We spent a lot of time talking to her grandmother, telling her that Chantale could be an All-American here,” said Nelson. “But from day one, I told Chantale and her grandmother that no matter what happens, if she got her degree that would be the biggest achievement.”
The process to get to where she is today wasn’t easy for the three-time all-region selection.
Nelson first noticed the Roswell native at a preseason high school scrimmage in Rio Rancho. There were a dozen schools at the scrimmage including Roswell High School. Three coaches came up to Nelson and told him he had to see this kid play.
“I’m sitting, watching and all of a sudden, they set a high ball in the middle and this kid goes up and her whole head is above everybody else. That was Chantale.”
After the scrimmage, the recruiting process started for Nelson and Riddle, but a big issue was standing in the way of her admittance here at the University of New Mexico: academics.
Nelson, Riddle and Riddle’s grandmother went through a few meetings with the Roswell High principal and academic advisors to see what was required to get Riddle enrolled at UNM.
Nelson thought that he was getting the potential prospect in the fall, but UNM and the NCAA didn’t grant Riddle’s eligibility or admittance until the second semester of what was supposed to be her freshman year.
“She wasn’t admitted in the fall of her freshman year,” said Nelson. “During that first semester, she had to rework. She retook her tests a couple of times for better scores and did everything she was supposed to do.”
Director of Compliance, Dawn Martinez and Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA Janice Ruggiero helped Riddle in the process by filing an NCAA waiver form. There was also a committee from the Mountain West’s Faculty Athletics Representatives that had to accept Riddle’s case. The committee accepted the case and the NCAA granted the waiver form, but she couldn’t compete right away. She was granted an athletic scholarship, but was not allowed to compete.
When Riddle was admitted into the university in the spring of 2010, she attended class and took the 2010 season as a redshirt year. Riddle was not allowed to practice or attend team functions, but that didn’t keep her out of the gym.
“I think that redshirt year helped me develop mentally and gain the years of club volleyball experience that I didn’t have and the other girls had,” said Riddle. “I did a lot of study hours that year. That first semester, when I sat out, was the hardest one.”
“She would come in and go back to the south gym and serve balls on her own,” said Nelson. “She didn’t have the luxury of having one of the coaches working with her. She spent almost the entire first year on her own. We monitored her classes. We had academic tutors. But essentially, she had to make grades her first year.”
Many supporters from the university helped Riddle get to where she is today. University of New Mexico Learning Strategist, Chris Baca was a big supporter in the early process. Initially, Riddle was required to meet with Baca three times a week for two hours a day, working on homework assignments and general study skills until she was able to be on her own.
“That is a pretty typical thing but she probably had to meet with me more than she probably would have liked,” said Baca. “A lot of time students, who haven’t had a lot of success in the past, don’t necessarily enjoy the classroom. Once they start to have some success and recognize that they have ability within themselves, then they come in, work with us, get a little bit of support and see that it makes a huge difference in their academic success.”
Baca is extremely excited for Chantale as the two built a great relationship over the years. Baca said Riddle didn’t believe in herself when she first came here and didn’t see herself earning the degree.
“This is like our Super Bowl in a lot of ways,” said Baca. “We get to know our students really well, so I’m excited for her personally. I’m excited to see what her next journey is. To see what she has been able to accomplish and to see who she is and how much she has changed. That is why I come to work every day; the experience to meet and get to know and be a part of a journey for someone like Chantale.”
All of her supporters are enthusiastic with the topic of Chantale graduating.
“That is one of the greatest things, when all of the students graduate,” said Ruggiero. “To me, that is like winning a national championship. That is the one thing that lasts forever, is that degree and I am very proud of her.”
“It is very cool to see her leave here as a grown woman,” said assistant coach Lisa Beauchene, who helped with the process. “She can be financially responsible for herself and has just really matured. She was always a great athlete and we knew she had the ability so it is awesome that she is able to take that away with her after having such an awesome career here.”
Riddle had a senior season that many players might not be able to handle. Her mother battled through breast cancer as she was trying to finish up her degree and senior season. But Riddle fought and had another outstanding season, breaking records and adding more accolades to her resume.
“It was tough,” said Riddle. “But I think me being strong as I have gotten over the past years has definitely helped me through it. Jeff and I have had a closer relationship and also I’ve been closer with a lot of my teammates. It was hard and it still can be hard but I feel like I have a more positive mentality.”
Professional volleyball is in sight for Riddle, but graduation on Friday will be the biggest moment in Riddle’s career here at UNM.
“It is exciting and very rewarding that this day is actually coming. I have a lot of careers and a lot of different things that I can do with my life now,” said Riddle.
Chantale Riddle is a Lobo for life. A Lobo with a degree.