Ralston Valley’s Tate Wride balancing athletics and music

For most young adults as they navigate high school, they are constantly trying to balance school, homework, a social life, and the athletics OR activities they participate in outside of school.

For Ralston Valley freshman Tate Wride, that balance includes athletics AND music.

Wride, who is a member of the Mustang boys tennis team, is trying to do it all. He is also the first chair violinist in the RV orchestra, as well as a member of the RV choir as a tenor-bass.

“I like to live a busy lifestyle,” Wride said. ”I don’t like to just sit around, so this is good for me.”

Wride was introduced to the world of music from a young age, as his mother was an accomplished violinist, teaching Tate how to play, where he eventually fell in love with the instrument. On the sports side, that’s where dad comes in, as he introduced Tate to the sport.

“And I was like, hey, why not just do them both,” Wride exclaimed. “My parents have been a really big influence and help.”

The two days prior to the 2022 individual boys tennis state championships, where Wride played in Ralston Valley’s No. 4 doubles line, he had two choir concerts to perform in. Then the following Monday after the tennis championships, he had an orchestra concert.

“Scheduling wise, everything happens at a different time luckily, so I still have time to do my homework,” Wride explained.

With music being a year-round activity, Wride has no plans of slowing down. He is planning on playing basketball in the winter, and is even thinking of going out for the lacrosse team in the spring.

“I’ve been living this busy lifestyle for the last couple of years,” Wride continued. “In middle school, I even did some plays before tennis practice, so I’m definitely looking to continue this working machine. I’m just going to continue to try my best at everything that I do, and see where it takes me.”