Student follows in family's footsteps to become next Sun Devil athlete
Rylen Bourguet will play beach volleyball, major in business at ASU
Editor's note: ASU News is highlighting some of its notable incoming students for fall 2023.
The name Bourguet is not unfamiliar at Arizona State University, particularly for Sun Devil Football fans.
Trenton Bourguet is a redshirt junior quarterback for ASU, and younger brother, Coben, is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver.
Now you can add a third Bourguet to the mix.
Incoming freshman Rylen Bourguet will major in business at ASU and play for the beach volleyball team after winning seven state championships in three sports — soccer, volleyball and beach volleyball — at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona.
That Bourguet is an accomplished athlete and student — she has at 4.0 GPA at Salpointe — shouldn't be a surprise. She comes from a family of motivated self-starters. Plus, she's the only girl among six siblings.
"My brothers and my parents kind of set the tone early on," Rylen said. "I had no other choice but to continue that after them. I have my own journey for course, but I hold myself to high expectations just like they do."
Rylen's father, Toby Bourguet, told the Arizona Daily Star that Rylen is "a fireball. She’s a really fierce competitor. In anything they’ve ever done, she’s been right there.”
ASU News talked to Rylen about becoming a Sun Devil and the next four years of her life.
Question: What made you choose ASU?
Answer: There were a multitude of reasons. I would say the big school environment. And having my brothers there was super important. Also, staying close to home but not too close. It’s exactly what I wanted in a school.
Q: What are you most excited to experience your first semester?
A: I would say moving in, getting comfortable in that environment, the new people, new teammates and classmates, and just getting that college feel. And it’s football season in the fall, so I’m super excited to watch my brothers play.
Q: Are you anxious? Excited?
A: I would say excited. I’m not trying to rush this summer away. I’m enjoying it with my family. But I’m definitely excited to get started on the new chapter.
Q: What talents and skills do you bring to the ASU community?
A: I would say leadership. I’ve always been a leader in the classroom, on the field, on the court, whatever it is. I carry a 4.0 GPA. I do all the extracurricular activities like National Honor Society and stuff like that. So I’m very prideful as a student as well as an athlete.
Q: So, who’s the best athlete in the family?
A: It’s hard to say. We all have our special talents and do different things that make us who we are as athletes. I wouldn’t say one of us is better than the other. We’re just so different.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your college years?
A: I would definitely say get my career going, whatever that is. Decide what I want to do post-college because sports are only going to take up a small chapter of my life. But, also, have fun while I’m there and not take anything for granted. And have fun with my volleyball career. Take that as far as I can and just work hard and do my best.
Q: What’s one interesting fact about yourself that only your friends know?
A: Let me think. I used to play quarterback in flag football until I was 14. I was pretty good. We went to nationals.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem in the world, what would you choose?
A: I would say poverty and homelessness. Those are the most relevant things in my life that I’ve seen. I grew up in Tucson, which is a good place, so I haven’t seen a lot of (life’s hardships) but that is the one thing I’ve seen, just driving around stuff.
Top photo courtesy Rylen Bourguet
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