Alyssa Rigby of Mountain View named All-Region girls golfer of year

Alyssa Rigby burst onto the high school golf scene by winning the Class 3A state championship as a freshman.

So it would be natural to assume the Mountain View sophomore is a natural at her sport.

But that would be a disservice to the years Rigby has spent learning how to play - and more importantly compete - at a high level.

"There's no easy way to pick up golf super quick," Rigby said. "It's a sport you have to dedicate yourself to and practice it. It took a long time for me to learn that and really love the game as much as my family did."

Golf has always been a family affair for Rigby, who is The Columbian's All-Region girls golfer of the year. Both her parents are avid golfers as are her two brothers - her older brother Alex competes for Oklahoma Christian University.

Rigby had a golf club in her hand by the time she was 5. By 10, she was competing in tournaments.

She still remembers the jitters she felt.

"I would say the first taste of tournament nerves was pretty harsh," Rigby said. "I was very young and I didn't know how to deal with it that well."

Instead of getting frustrated, Rigby approached competitive golf like an equation that could be solved.

Fast forward five years. Now Rigby relishes tournament golf and the nerves that come with wanting to win.

"It's fun to figure stuff out," she said. "Now I love the first tee. That box is my space."

An online student, Rigby and her parents divide their time between Vancouver, Arizona and California. Those Southwest states offer Rigby robust junior golf opportunities year-round.

But Rigby said there's something special about playing high school golf for Mountain View. Watching her brother Alex compete for the Thunder and getting to know coach Ben Matthias planted that seed.

This season included a dominant victory at the district tournament. She won by 40 shots, shooting 1-over 143 over 36 holes at Mint Valley in Longview.

At the 3A state tournament in Deer Park, Rigby shot herself into a three-player playoff where she ultimately finished second. She shot 7-under for the tournament with her second-day score of 5-under 67 the lowest among all players.

This summer, Rigby plans to compete in numerous tournaments, including the Oregon Junior Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge. She will also begin college visits with an eye on competing after high school.

But the lofty goals Rigby has for future won't keep her from staying focused on the present.

"I've always liked to think about what's right in front of me," Rigby said. "The outcome is not really what I'm working towards. It's more about the process of getting there."

The rest of the All-Region team

Maia Carrillo, Columbia River: Senior finished sixth at 2A state tournament and fourth at district.

Evangeline Fulton, Ridgefield: Sophomore was 2A district runner-up and placed seventh at state.

Lucia Hill, Prairie: Senior was 3A district tournament runner-up and led the Falcons to the team title.

Sky Linden, Washougal: Senior placed 15th at the Class 2A state tournament and seventh at districts.

Keira Newman, Washougal: Freshman placed fifth at state helping Panthers win 2A team title.

Addison Paul, Washougal: Sophomore was third at state, third at districts and 2A GSHL champ.

Reese Reiter, Camas: Sophomore was 4A district runner-up and seventh at bi-district tournament.

India Schmidt, Skyview: Freshman won 4A district title, and was seventh at bi-district and 11th at state.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 7:06 AM.