Fresno State Athletics
Twisting and Turning
1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 25, 2002
Currently one of only three divers on the Bulldog swimming and diving team, freshman Ashleigh Raley has been an athlete since the tender age of four. "I started diving when I was 11. Before that, I had been a gymnast but I hurt my ankle so I had to quit. My mom found diving for me. I'd always loved diving anyway. She'd take me to the community pool and I'd do jumps off the board and scare her." Transferring her talent from gymnastics to diving came easily to her. " I had all of the flipping and twisting skills down," said Raley. Her parents are both very supportive of their daughter's athleticism. "We're a pretty athletic family," Raley said. "My mom played softball when she was younger and my dad played football in high school." Raley's older sister was also a gymnast and her younger brother is an All-Star athlete. Sports are an important part of the Raley's life, but her first priority is her strong Christian faith. "I grew up in a Methodist church, but my sister took me to a new church one night with her and her boyfriend when I was 13. I learned that I had to have a relationship with Jesus to get into heaven. Since then I have had a strong relationship with Christ." This relationship has been incorporated into all areas of her life, including athletics. "I think that my faith affects my diving a lot. God gave me the talent to dive. As a Christian, I realize that I set the profile of a Christian for a lot of people. I think it's a good thing. I can show them how I live even though I mess up sometimes. Hopefully they see that in me. Athletics are a great way to proclaim your faith to your teammates and to the public." Though Raley's major is undeclared, she's thinking about communications since her ultimate plans involve going into the ministry. "I think that God is leading me to work with youth," she said. She has already taken several steps to get involved in the ministry. "My senior year of high school I started a morning Bible study. I thought it was great because it brought a lot of Christians on campus closer and it brought in a lot of new people that didn't know too much about God." This last summer Raley worked as an intern at her church in Austin, Texas. "There were three of us. During the week we'd contact new visitors and we helped out with meetings on Wednesday nights. We were also counselors at different church camps. Our youth group also went on a mission trip to Raymond, N.H., to help rebuild a church there." Raley feels that the most pressing issues facing teens today are how to deal with peer pressure relating to drugs and sex. She also said "A lot of people struggle with standing up for God in school. We tried to help them by being a good example. We also gave them a plan to help guide them if they wanted to start a group at school." As a freshman, Raley has faced different challenges at school and her first semester required some adjustments. "Since I've been here my schedule has been so hectic. It's hard to have time for homework, practice and friends. Once I got into the routine, though, it got easier. It was just such a dramatic change from high school." With all of her family back in Texas, being so far from home has also been difficult. "My mom and I talk a couple of times a week. It's funny, but me moving out here brought us a lot closer. It made me realize how much she meant to me." For the last eight years her family has lived in Austin. "Austin is a great city. I love it there. I don't think I'd move back to a big city like Dallas because it's so hectic, but I would like to settle down in Texas. I love the atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly." Though she would like to end up back in Austin, Raley isn't worried about her future. "I don't know where God wants me, but I know that He is the one that leads me and takes me where He wants me to be."
