Ryker Greene – Bennington

When Ryker Greene of Bennington High School was in the fourth grade, he got his first taste of football while playing in the Salvation Army League. Little did anyone know, that first year would lead to him becoming a fixture with the Bennington varsity team.

“I’m going to be a senior this year at Bennington high school. I play quarterback in offense, safety on defense and I kickoff and punt,” said Greene.

Greene and his Bulldog teammates have become a close group and that chemistry is noticeable when you watch them play.

“The best thing about my teammates is that we all have fun and have a great sense of humor. We’ve had great memories on and off the field. What’s great about our team is that we try to push each other as hard as we can, and we support each other. We don’t have tryouts in Bennington, so we all vary on levels of talent and usually play both offense and defense. We have to support each other even more than a big school team that plays only their top talent,” said Greene. “I moved to Bennington in the fifth grade. All the teachers are very supportive and give individual attention. The community is small, and everyone knows everyone. They’ve helped me all the way through school and know me as an individual. They know I try to represent Bennington in the best way possible. I enjoy knowing the community and that they support our team.”

This off-season Greene has worked to improve his game in order to help the team win.

“I’m personally always trying to get faster so in the off-season I ran track. Our team is trying to improve our passing plays and we’ve been hitting the weights this summer. We have been focusing on improving our line,” said Greene.

The goal this year may sound simple, but Greene and his teammates know it will take hard work and a dedication to one another to accomplish it.

“The expectations is to win. There have been some changes in the league teams with players graduating and we have several seniors with experience playing this year. I believe all the changes are in our favor,” said Greene. “This year we have a good fullback, a good offensive lineman, a couple of talented tight ends, and a solid supportive team and coaching staff. As long as we work together as a team, I think our chances are really good to be at the top and have a very successful season.”

Greene said his relies on his family for support and they have never let him down. “My grandfather taught me hard work, my aunts and uncles taught me to love sports and to have fun, my mom and dad have always been there through tough times, tough losses, struggles, and to teach me discipline. All of them loved me and made me who I am. I appreciate and love them all,” said Greene.