Knightly News

“It’s more than I ever could have dreamed of.” Tristen Rigby ’21

This time of year, high school athletes announce their intentions to continue athletic pursuits at the next level. The signing celebrations are filled with excitement, anticipation and the well wishes of an entire school community. Each year, the coaches also offer a word of wisdom that being a student athlete is tough.  

While there’s rarely the opportunity to circle back with a former Knight who has competed in college, REUKNIGHTING with Tristen Rigby provides that chance. Rigby is a true success story. At Episcopal, he was known for working hard and being committed to the team. After four years with the Knights, he joined the Clemson Tigers football team. Clemson was Rigby’s dream school because of the academic programs available, and playing for the Tigers was a tremendous bonus.  Rigby tackled Clemson football the same way he did Knights football, exhibiting that same work ethic and dedication to improvement. The work paid off, and Rigby flourished.

Rigby was named the Clemson Scout Team Player of the Year. He recently graduated with a degree in business management, and he is now on the Clemson football staff as a student coach and analyst. He’ll start graduate school soon in data analytics.

“You’re not alone.”

Rigby says his experience as a student athlete was 1,000% better than he could have ever imagined. While it’s true that being a student athlete can be challenging, being part of a team means having a built-in support system every step of the way. Rigby says that when he first arrived at Clemson, his teammates took him under their wing and offered him tremendous support and assistance. “You’re not alone,” he says of the experience. The team became Rigby’s family, and he learned valuable life lessons. “As a student athlete there are a lot of hard days and good days,” he says. He says he developed faith in himself and the people around him. He learned to never look behind you and to learn from past lessons.

As a Scout Team member, Rigby says his job was to help the starters prepare - a role he took seriously and worked hard to perform. “It was a blessing to know we impacted the team,” he says. “You win as a team.” Looking back on his college football career, one moment stands out in a time filled with incredible highlights. In his junior year, Rigby played running back in the Charleston Southern game. After having a decent run in the game, the team celebration was the most memorable because of the family atmosphere and having the support from his teammates. Rigby and his teammates had much to celebrate. During Rigby’s tenure, Clemson went to the Orange Bowl, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, and had a run in the College Football Playoff. The team also earned the ACC Championship title twice.

The family Rigby developed during his time at Clemson will be part of his life for the rest of his life. He appreciates the brotherhood created through sport so much that he’s found another brotherhood equally as important. After a summer internship with the fire department, Rigby trained and worked to become a part-time firefighter. “You go through fire and chaos, and you have to keep your cool and do your job,” he says, summarizing how firefighting and football feel similar.

“I have no regrets.”

Years ago, when Rigby realized his dream of attending Clemson University, he had this to say. “Clemson is the right fit for me because it is the environment I want to be in.” Now, after earning a degree, he couldn’t ask for more and says the Clemson environment and the Episcopal experience are similar in several ways. He points out that both schools have high expectations and value character development, community, academic learning and life lessons.  He is grateful to have experienced both.

Rigby has accomplished a lot since his time on Woodland Ridge Boulevard. Like in high school, those achievements are a result of hard work and tremendous effort. He offers the following advice for current Episcopal students with similar goals. “Give it your all,” he says. “I wouldn’t be at Clemson or Episcopal if I hadn’t given it my all. Put your heart into it.” He also suggests that students take a step back. “Look at yourself and see how far you’ve gotten,” he says. “Live in the present and enjoy time in high school. Be your true self. Be authentic and be the best you can.”

Humble and mature beyond his years, Rigby has worked hard to accomplish his goals. He has no regrets about his college athletic experience and is satisfied that he gave it his all when he had the opportunity. Rigby is an excellent example of what it means to be a Knight, and he represents his schools and teams well. “As a personal note, if anyone from the Episcopal community ever needs advice or just a simple pick me up, I am always here,” he says. “The Knight family sticks together.” 

Join us in wishing him well on his journey. Please share a comment with him in the comments section below.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.