Shakopee senior Mykal Riley is helping the school's football program make the adjustment to life in the South Suburban Conference.
The Sabers are in their initial season in the 10-team conference. They previously played in the defunct Missota Conference.
Riley plays tight end/defensive end for the Sabers, who have lost their first three games of the 2014 season.
Here is a closer look at Riley, who also runs the hurdles for the boys' track team in the spring:
Q: The best movie I've seen in the past year?
A: "Transformers: Age of Extinction."
Q: Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me?
A: Hardworking, silly and a little intense at moments.
Q: Three songs I never skip on my iPod are …
A: … "Leave The Night On" by Sam Hunt; "Dayum, Baby" by Florida Georgia Line; and "Small Town Throwdown" by Brantley Gilbert.
Q: Who do you like to follow on Twitter?
A: I don't really know anyone on Twitter, but the person or group I like reading tweets on is Uberfacts. They post a lot of facts and statistics that are pretty interesting and sometimes weird.
Q: At my first varsity practice, I felt …
A: … very nervous but excited at the same time. I wanted to show all of the upperclassmen what I was capable of and what I could do to help out the team. I had my first varsity track practice in ninth grade and my first varsity football practice as a sophomore.
Q: What did you work on most in the offseason?
A: Becoming a stronger runner for the hurdles in track, and also my strength in general for the positions I play in football.
Q: To get focused for a game or meet, I …
A: … put my headphones in, turn up the volume a little so the world drowns out, and go through what I need to do to be successful. I do a little stretching and moving around during the down time to keep my body from getting stiff and locked up.
Q: What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?
A: Being named the varsity football captain, and stepping out onto the stadium field for the first time as a senior.
Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?
A: I balance school and sports by getting my job done in the classroom, which means work hard, turn things in on time, pay attention and respect my teachers to the fullest. I balance my sports and school by the saying my coaches and parents have always said: "School always comes first."
Q: Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?
A: It would probably be hockey because it's a fun and challenging sport. Plus, I like that you can also check people.
Q: Who is your favorite college or pro sports team?
A: I don't really have a favorite sports team, but I do enjoy watching the Army-Navy football games. I love that the military is also involved in sports, and that soldiers and sailors can play the amazing game of football while serving.
Q: In 10 years, I hope I'm …
A: … in a career that I enjoy and can be happy with. I also hope that I have surrounded myself with a great group of friends. I also want to have a cabin on a lake with a great sunset view.
RON HAGGSTROM