Athlete of the Month: Rhe Nae Leach
Hello, Poets! This segment will highlight an Athlete of the Month throughout our Women’s and Men’s sports to bring recognition to a student-athlete we think has performed to an extraordinary capacity. We want to bring Women’s Basketball Star Rhe Nae Leach to your attention for February’s Athlete of the Month!
Leach is a third-year student at Whittier who has played basketball for as many years as she has been a Poet. She is also a multi-sport athlete; she participates on the Whittier College track and field team and has won All-America honors in the 4x100-meter Relay. Recently, the Women’s Basketball team has had great success. While it has been a team effort, denying the frontwoman as Rhe Nae Leach would be impossible.
On a rainy Thursday night, Feb. 2, Leach, a Point Guard, reached an astounding 1,000 points in her career, a highly coveted achievement. They went on to rack up another home win against the Banana Slugs, 69–65, with Rhe Nae Leach as a vital player. While she is only a third-year, she is among the fastest Poets to reach the milestone and she shows no signs of stopping. She only needed 14 points in the game to get 1,000 and blew past it in only the second quarter, racking up 30 points in the effort!
Not only did she reach 1,000 points with ease, but she also joined the 500-rebound club, which is no easy feat. Leach became the first Whittier player this season to hit double digits in both field goals and free throws, which are achievements that seemed to be in the back of her mind. She plays for her teammates, which as she says, “I attribute my recent success to my work ethic and my supportive teammates and family that keep me going.” She brings a relentless offensive approach as the lead in an unguardable team.
Throughout her collegiate career, she garnered Freshman of the Year, Track and Field Newcomer of the Year, Track and Field First Team All-SCIAC and All-Region, Second Team All-SCIAC in 2022 (Basketball) awards, as well as SCIAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week award multiple times. Whittier is the lone SCIAC program in the NCAA’s Regional Rankings, highlighting a momentous season for the Poets. Leach has been its most consistent contributor.
Leach’s aggressive mentality and work ethic set her apart, enabling her to cultivate so much success as a student-athlete, not to mention her athleticism, especially in competing in two sports. However, Leach’s ability to lead is what has created such a frenzy around her. She discussed her experience in this aspect, “Major moments were in high school and getting in for CIF and going to the NCAA tournament my freshman season of college and knowing that I have the ability to lead a team.” The Poets have had unparalleled success, and that has a lot to do with the kind of mentality the players and leaders of the team bring to it. Leach has an unsatisfied approach to her game and is always looking for more, “I aspire to now get to 1500 points to end my college career and then go on to play professionally anywhere that takes me.”
As someone who only plays one sport, I can’t imagine the pressure and time management it takes to do two sports and do them well. Leach, however, dominates both with the kind of assertion that leaves her mark wherever she competes. There is an impatient look in her eyes when she gets on the court that some athletes may never have. She plays with admirable passion for the game, and that, in turn, inspires those around her. It is infectious to see someone give their all, and it is clear that Leach plays to win no matter who the opponent is.
We wish Leach continued success and congratulate her for making her mark as a Poet!
Photo Courtesy of Whittier College
