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RHS: Girls Swimming Hard Work, Dedication Pay off in Swimming Scholarship for Edwards By Jeremy Mayo      RHINELANDER – A stellar four-year career at Rhinelander High School received its icing Friday as senior Stefanie Edwards signed her letter of intent to attend Division II Minnesota State Mankato on a swimming scholarship. Edwards won multiple Wisconsin Valley Conference championships at RHS, and qualified for the WIAA State Meet last November in the 500-yard freestyle. “I was really excited about it and it makes swimming that much more rewarding I think,” Edwards said of the signing. Edwards was joined at the signing ceremony by her parents, Greg and Cheryl, by RHS Swim Coach Amber Laggis and by RHS Activities Director Justin Szews. All of them realize and appreciate the hard work she has put in to swimming, and the other sports she has participated in over the years.      “It’s very exciting knowing that she’s doing something she’s enjoyed doing all of her life,” commented Greg Edwards. “She started swimming when she was six or seven years old and has really enjoyed it.” Said coach Laggis, “It’s really rewarding thinking of all the hours Stefanie has put in the swimming pool. It’s a grueling sport. There’s nothing easy about it. There’s nothing easy about getting up early in the morning and diving into the cold pool. To see someone who has excelled at it, been a great role model for all of our swimmers (receive this) is very exciting.” “The thing that really sticks out in my mind, is that in a world where kids seem to be pressured into one sport or the other, we have an athlete that stands to win her eleventh letter her at RHS," Szews added. "I believe she’s participated in a sport every season that she’s been here.” Edwards was also a four-time letter winner in Nordic skiing and a two-time letter winner in girls soccer. She is participating in girls track this spring. While her educational plans are not set in stone, Edwards says that she is leaning toward a business degree with an emphasis in accounting. Minnesota State approached her in the recruiting process and now that she is becoming a Maverick, she will be reunited with former Hodag swimmer, Brie Simon. “I loved the campus when I visited it, plus the coaching staff was really nice,” said Edwards. “I was in contact with them all throughout my swimming career. I got to go see a couple meets, got to meet all of them and I know Brie Simon who is going there and she loved it.” Having Simon on the team will provide a little familiarity for Edwards, who will become a freshman once again. “It will be nice to have someone that I know and a former teammate to help push me. It will be a comforting feeling I think.” One thing that both Laggis and Szews take pride in is that fact that Edwards has been someone the swim team, and the student body at RHS can look up to. “I’m so proud of Stefanie and really hope that some of the underclassmen see what she’s done and now that she’s going on swimming elsewhere,” says Laggis. “I hope they think they can do that too and have the desire too.” “She’s is in a lot of ways a role model to no just young swimmers, but all male and female student athletes,” commented Szews adding that she was Rhinelander’s female nomination for the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award. The winners of that award will be announced in May. -- Photo: Edwards' signing From Left to Right: Greg Edwards, Stefanie Edwards, Cheryl Edwards, Amber Laggis. More Story Images: (Click the images below to enlarge.)

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Senior’s Career to Culminate at State Edwards State Send-Off to be Held Friday Edwards Wins 500 Freestyle at Sectionals, Qualifies for State RHS Swimmers Set Out to Obtain Big Goal Edwards Repeats as WVC Champ in the 500, Hodags take Second at WVC Meet Hodags Enter WVC Meet in Third Following Rout of Marshfield Hodag Swimmers Net Record Amount in Food Drive Depth Propels Hodags Past Rapids Hodags Easily Swim Past Lakeland RHS Girls Swim Team to Hold Food Drive Thursday

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Edwards to Accept Swimming Scholarship to Minnesota State      RHINELANDER – RHS Senior Stefanie Edwards will continue her swimming career at the collegiate level. She has given a verbal commitment to Division II Minnesota State-Mankato, and will formally sign a

Girls Swim Team Holds Year-End Banquet      RHINELANDER – A day after their competitive schedule came to an end, the RHS Girls Swim Team held their banquet held on Sunday. It capped off a pretty special year for the Hodags, who finished second

Edwards Saves the Best For Last      MADISON – Saturday was the last high school swim for RHS Senior Stefanie Edwards, and she finished with a performance to be proud of, improving on both her seed time and position in the 500 Freestyle

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