Elle Ruffridge's record-setting impact felt across sports landscape

Elle Ruffridge proved nearly unstoppable on the basketball court.

But the record-setting Pocahontas Area graduate made an impact in other sports and among the school hallways, too.

Ruffridge, who set state all-time bests in five-player scoring, 3-pointers and assists, was a standout on the volleyball court, the cross country course and the track, as well.

She juggled dual fall sports and finished her high school career with track — efforts overshadowed by her outstanding basketball accomplishments.

"She was committed in every sport," Pocahontas Area girls' basketball coach Robert Maske said.

During her senior year, Ruffridge ran at the state cross country meet, helping her team to a sixth-place finish. The volleyball team went 27-4 and nearly reached the state tournament. She ended her high school athletic career by helping the Pocahontas Area track team take third place in the state meet, where she was a four-event qualifier.

Ruffridge, whose abilities shined in much more than one sport, has been named the Des Moines Register's All-Iowa girls' high school athlete of the year.

The Miss Iowa Basketball selection, who is now attending Missouri State, left the court with a second consecutive state championship in March. She set state records for scoring (2,951), assists (802) and 3-pointers made (466).

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In 19 state tournament games, she scored a total of 250 points, more than anyone else.

She helped Pocahontas Area win two state basketball crowns and another in cross country. Her teams also took state runner-up honors in both sports.

Ruffridge also played softball as an eighth-grader before giving up that sport to concentrate on basketball during her summers.

She's now in Springfield, Mo. Her first day on campus was June 8.

"I'm now a college athlete, a college student," Ruffridge said. "It's real life now."

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Maske was a tremendous competitor in whatever high school sport she played.

That included volleyball, when she was willing to take a tumble to help rally her team.

"She would slam her body and hit the floor as hard as she could," Maske said.

Maske said Ruffridge's attitude spread to others.

"Everyone else followed," Maske said. "Everyone sacrificed for the team."

He added: "Elle above everything else is a passionate and committed teammate."

Grace Meyer, who was a teammate of Ruffridge in all five of the sports she played, said they met in third grade in softball.

Meyer said she her first impression of Ruffridge was that she was friendly and approachable.

As the girls grew older, Meyer witnessed Ruffridge being supportive to her teammates. If they were having a bad day, Ruffridge gave an assist.

"Taking care of people is her thing," Meyer said. "She just loves everyone. If she sees someone is having a tough time, she takes them aside and says, 'Oh, let me talk to you.'"

Ruffridge's drive carried over into the classroom, the speech podium and the choir stage.

"She'll work hard in everything she does," Meyer said.

Ruffridge will long be remembered as one of the state's top basketball players. She combined an ability to shoot from any distance with weaving between defenders toward the basket. Even though she stood 5-foot-4, she left many foes bewildered trying to keep up with her on the court.

"I'd look at my assistant and say, 'Wow, we defended that pretty well,' " Manson-Northwest Webster girls' basketball coach Bret Larson said. "(Her team) made those plays a lot, which made them tough to guard."

Ruffridge's skills and positive attitude made her a well-respected winner by opponents in the Twin Lakes Conference.

"You want to beat each other, but it's still good to see the success our conference and area has had," Larson said.

Ruffridge had a great deal of pride in her school. When it came to sports, she wanted everyone to remember those accomplishments.

"We want to show people where we come from," Ruffridge said.