Recruit Files: Riley Shaffer, Boise State

Name: Riley Shaffer
Club: Mavericks Gymnastics
High School Graduation Year: 2022

NCAA Team: Boise State
Commitment Announcement: Instagram
Social Handles: Twitter | Instagram 

Personal Bests 

Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
9.700 9.600 9.625 9.625

Videos 

Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
2019 Region 3 Regionals 2020 WOGA Classic 2020 WOGA Classic 2019 Region 3 Regionals

About Riley

Shaffer is a two-time level 10 nationals qualifier (2018 and 2019). She tied for 24th place in the all around in 2018 (Junior C). In 2017 she was crowned Texas state champion on vault, also winning a silver medal on beam and tying for bronze in the all around. She won bronze on bars at the state meet in 2019.

What She Brings to Boise State

Vault

  • Skill: tucked Yurchenko full
  • Results: 2017 Texas state champion
  • Margin of Improvement: Shaffer’s vault is good in the air and on the landing, but it only starts from a 9.750 in college. She competed a laid out Yurchenko full in 2017, which is more competitive.
  • Impact on the Team: Boise State will hope not to have to use a tucked Yurchenko full in the lineup. If Shaffer can regain her previous difficulty, she could challenge for a lineup spot.

Uneven Bars

  • Skills: Maloney to Pak salto, full-in dismount
  • Results: first place at the 2020 WOGA Classic (career high)
  • Margin of Improvement: Shaffer has leg separations on both her Maloney and her Pak.
  • Impact on the Team: Boise State did an excellent job on bars in 2020 despite competing with only five gymnasts at most meets. Most of the current lineup will have graduated once Shaffer gets to college, though. Her routine could score well if she can clean up her form.

Balance Beam 

  • Skills: BHS + LOSO, switch leap to back tuck somersault, side aerial, leap jump to leap jump, sheep jump, 1.5 twist dismount
  • Results: second place at the 2017 Texas state meet
  • Margin of Improvement: Shaffer could improve her leap extension, but overall her form is good.
  • Impact on the Team: Shaffer is a talented beam worker, but her results are shaky. She could challenge for a lineup spot if she can work on her consistency.

Floor Exercise

  • Skills: double pike, double turn, front layout to front full twist, 1.5 twist to front layout
  • Results: fifth place at the 2018 Texas state meet
  • Margin of Improvement: Shaffer does not perform a very difficult routine but her form is clean. She could work on her leaps a bit more.
  • Impact on the Team: Shaffer’s solid routine could challenge for a spot, especially in the first half of the lineup.

READ THIS NEXT: JaFree Scott Commits to Florida for the 2023 Season


Article by Talitha Ilacqua

Like what you see? Consider donating to support our efforts throughout the year!

One comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.