Page 22 - JAN 2024

Page 22
Sports
Even if she weren’t wearing her signature No. 13, it wouldn’t take long to recognize Rylee Barney in a Newfound High athletics sporting event. She’s the one leading her teammates through thick and thin with her voice and her actions.
Rylee has been a big part of great team successes with the Bears: starting point guard for an NHIAA Final Four basket- ball appearance in 2021 and a member of a pair of state track and field championship teams. But in this, her senior year, Rylee has shown what true character and dedication mean.
After ten players graduated from the still-fledged girl's soc- cer program last summer, Rylee was left to lead the way with a relatively inexperienced team against many of the best teams New Hampshire had to offer. She managed to score nine of the team’s 12 goals (and assisted on two others), earning Honor-
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
January 2024
January’s Shining Star: Rylee
able Mention All-State for the second straight season.
However, there is much more to Rylee’s soccer con- tribution than just statistics. With a new coach and al- most half the roster being freshmen, Rylee was able to balance the competitiveness of a varsity team with being someone who could be a mentor to help the young players acclimate, not only to the soccer team but to high school, as the season started a few weeks before school did.
Although the persona that people see on the field
is one of a relentless war-
rior who plays through various ailments and always has to pick herself back up after getting knocked down by an opponent, Rylee is also extremely patient and eager to help her team- mates, both on and off the field. She helped organize several
off-field get-togethers and was always willing to assist anyone before and after practice. Speak- ing of practice, Rylee is almost always one of the first ones to arrive and last to leave and was constantly looking for ways to make her (and her teammates)
Barney
better.
This winter,
Rylee is a leader on an even younger team on the bas- ketball court. She is the only senior with only one junior re- turning on the var- sity squad and has another new coach to learn from (albeit the same one from soccer). But again, Rylee has used it as an opportunity rather than an an- noyance.
Having a great deal of attention from opponents can be diffi- cult and frustrating, but Rylee doesn’t let that bother her and keeps working hard no matter what the scoreboard says at the time. And she continues to get the best out of her teammates, assuring them when things start
to go wrong and teaching them every day in practice. Again, Rylee is able to strike a balance that many young athletes (and adults, for that matter) struggle with immensely in sports: she is able to be extremely competitive and yet still be one of the most compassionate people I know.
Rylee is able to show that com- passion in the community when she volunteers with local youth or at the New Hampshire Hu- mane Society. She also finds time to work a few hours each week (more in the offseason), where she brings the same dedication she does in other life pursuits.
In the end, there won’t be any way to replace No. 13 on the soccer field or the basketball court when Rylee Barney grad- uates in June. But the lessons she taught and the examples she displayed mean that while she is off in college (and beyond), her legacy will live on at Newfound High.
Central New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce to
Hold 2024 Travel & Tourism Seminar
Expanded Event Offers Education, Networking for Industry Members
PLYMOUTH Central New Hampshire Chamber of Com- merce (CNHCC) is holding its annual Travel & Tourism Sem- inar on Thursday, January 25, 2024, from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Common Man Inn and Spa in Plymouth, New Hamp- shire.
The seminar includes educa- tional presentations, a network- ing luncheon, and a mini travel expo where attendees can explore and interact with area businesses and organizations. This year’s program features three speakers:
Lori Harnois, director of Travel and Tourism Devel- opment for the state of New Hampshire. Harnois will pres- ent a summary of 2023 tourism outcomes for the state, as well as information about 2024 trends, predictions, and state marketing strategies.
Susan O’Donnell, executive director of Rath Young Pignatelli and an adjunct professor for the Hospitality and Tourism Man-
agement Program at the New Hampshire Technical Institute. O’Donnell will present on man- aging quality and developing best customer service practices in the hospitality and travel industry.
Tyler Ray, founder and prin- cipal of Backyard Concept, LLC, a professional advocacy firm supporting the outdoor rec- reation sector. Ray will present on connecting businesses to the outdoors and the benefits of sup- porting outdoor recreation initia- tives.
“The Chamber’s mission is to fuel the economic engine of our region, and travel and tour- ism is an important part of the economy here and across the state,” noted Matty Leighton, CNHCC’s executive director. “We’re thrilled to bring together business owners and profession- als from all over New Hampshire to help them prepare for a suc- cessful 2024 season.”
The 2024 Presenting Sponsor is Visit Waterville Valley, New
Hampshire. The sponsorship is a joint collaboration of the Wa- terville Valley Resort Association (WVRA), the town of Waterville Valley, and Waterville Valley Re- sort.
“Visit Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor for the 2024 Travel and Tourism Seminar,” said Tom Gross, a multi-business owner in Waterville Valley and president of WVRA, a member organization that markets and promotes Waterville Valley shops, restaurants, activities, sports ven- ues, nonprofits, the town and
lodging properties throughout New England.
“WVRA’s goal is to increase the number of visitors to the Wa- terville Valley region, whether it’s for a vacation or a lifetime. We look forward to welcoming New Hampshire business own- ers to our neck of the woods,” added Gross. “Our community and its citizens thrive because of the efforts of organizations like WVRA, CNHCC, and our state’s Division of Travel and Tourism Department.”
Supporting sponsors in- clude Service Credit Union,
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Tenney Mountain Re- sort, NH Electric Cooperative, Elaine Hughes Realty Group, MedCheck Urgent Care, Realty One Group Next Level, Lakes Media, WXRV 92.5 The River, Owl’s Nest Resort, The Dam Brewhouse, Aurental Technol- ogy Consulting, Sharon Thorne Allstate Insurance, Grafton Regional Development Cor- poration, Pleasant View Bed & Breakfast, Plymouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Roper Realty and Workflō Consulting.
Registration for the event is available now at centralnh.org. The event is open to the public and attendees do not need to be CNHCC members to register.
For information about the 2024 Travel & Tourism Seminar, related sponsorship opportunities or exhibiting at the event, con- tact CNHCC executive director Matty Leighton at director@cen- tralnh.org or (603) 969-7271.