You might say it was in Destiny's genes to continue her athletic career at Southeastern.
Following in her parents' footsteps, Destiny Paige Riddle is completing her four years of softball after graduating in 2018 with a bachelor's in psychology and a minor in Health and Physical Education.
She is now working on her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Her choice of degrees could have something to do with the fact that she is a pitcher. She also plays third base, first base, outfield or simply wherever she's needed at the moment.
Her parents are former Southeastern athletes with Darren Riddle playing baseball and Traci Thompson on the tennis team.
The big question is how did Destiny manage to get through Hilldale High School in Muskogee without playing tennis. She played basketball and softball until her senior year, when she started concentrating on softball.
She started playing softball at age three or four. Her family, including sisters Danielle (24) and Drew (16) are her biggest supporters. Danielle played softball at the University of Arkansas and Oklahoma State. Drew is committed to Tulsa University.
Destiny said, "My sisters started at about the same age. Our parents started us really early.
She earned All-Conference honors all four years in high school, was named Tulsa All-Metro Pitcher of the Year in 2013 and All-State in 2014. Her team reached the quarterfinals in 2012, won the State Championship in 2013 and reached the semifinals in 2014.
Sports didn't interfere with her academics as she was a member of the National Honor Society in high school and was named class valedictorian.
Her outstanding academics followed her to Southeastern. She has twice earned GAC All-Academic honors, was named Google Cloud Academic All-America and brought home softball's first GAC Elite Scholar recognition.
LadyStorm softball head coach
Ron Faubion said, "Destiny is a true student-athlete. She is a straight-A student and an All-Conference player. She was an All-America student-athlete last year and is very active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and SAAC (Student Athletics Advisory Committee). She serves as president of Southeastern's SAAC and secretary for the GAC.
"Destiny has represented Southeastern at National Conventions. She graduated at mid-term and is in the graduate program this spring.
"She has been a student worker in the softball program for four years and has accepted an offer to be our softball GA (Graduate Assistant) for the next two years.
"Both of her parents were Southeastern athletes and Destiny has inherited a great work ethic from them."
It wasn't all fun and games for her. She almost broke her neck in her freshman year.
"I was working for the team," Destiny said, "and it was my turn to do laundry. Coach Faubion had told us not to go the field alone at night.
"The clubhouse door and the gate were locked so I decided I would just climb over the fence, but I caught my shirt, flipped and landed on my head and elbow.
"I made some calls, but nobody was at home. I called coach Faubion and he answered in his usual manner … 'Miss Destiny, how are you doing?' I asked if he could come and get me.
He lived at least 10 minutes away, but made it in five. We went to MCSO. I thought it was where I was born. Sure enough, I was in the system, so no paper work."
There was no break in the elbow or head. She did stretch some ligaments and rehabbed those before the season started.
Riddle considered Central Oklahoma, but the Bronchos never really had a chance.
"I chose Southeastern because it felt like my home away from home," Destiny said. "The staff genuinely cares about their students, which was a huge selling point for me."
On her time at Southeastern, Destiny said, "This place is home. I've received an exceptional education and met people who are now family to me. I'm blessed that God placed me here the past four years. Also, our athletics department and community are one of a kind. When you come to Southeastern, you're family. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
It didn't hurt that her God parents, James and Carla Dalton, live in Durant and Destiny just moved right in with them. Home-cooked meals … oh, yeah.
Destiny said, "They used to baby sit for us and we definitely consider them family."
She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology at Oklahoma State University.
She also wants to get married, have kids and be a counselor for veterans or collegiate athletes.
She really has no time for hobbies. If she did, it would include sleeping, cooking and baking.
If she had it to do over: "I would definitely attend Southeastern," she said. "Education is the highest priority to me. My advisor Dr. Charla Hall and Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Internal Affairs
Cherrie Wilmoth have been great influences on me and I am very appreciative of them."
Her only regret is not being more involved coming into college. She made up for that lapse by becoming heavily involved in numerous campus activities.
