Two Three Lakes athletes sign to further athletic careers

Three Lakes seniors Sophia Nafziger and Macy Lester shared a special moment at Three Lakes High School last Wednesday as the two signed to further their athletic and academic careers in front of family and friends.

Nafziger put pen to paper as she will continue her soccer career at Indiana Wesleyan University, while Lester signed a scholarship for the cycling team at the Savannah College of Art & Design. She will compete in road and mountain bike racing.

Nafzinger and Lester shared their emotions shortly after the signing ceremony, and what it meant to be one of two athletes to sign to play collegiate sports.
“I’m super excited. I know I’ve worked really hard. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue to play the sport I love,” said Nafziger.

Lester shared similar feelings and knew that SCAD was the place for her. “I’m just really happy for this moment and excited for my future and what SCAD brings,” she said.

Nafziger grew up playing soccer in Three Lakes, while Lester started on bikes at a young age and competed on the Rhinelander Composite mountain bike team.

Both athletes had different reasons as to why they chose their specific school. They also mentioned the comfort of the campus, and what it offered, made the biggest difference in the end.

“The coaches were super welcoming. I really felt like I was at home from the moment I stepped on campus and met the players. I think they’re going to challenge me to grow and become a better player on the field, and a better person off the field,” mentioned Nafziger. “Their goals of forming a community on the field and off the field have been something I wanted to be a part of.”

Lester said that she has been on SCAD’s radar for a year, but when she went on an in-person visit, she was told they were tracking results back into her sophomore year. Everything clicked when the school also had the major she was interested in.

“I also toured that campus, and they kind of told me they started looking at me in my sophomore year. That’s the only school that had cycling and my major,” explained Lester.

She mentioned that competing in races out of state also allowed other colleges to become involved in the recruiting process, along with SCAD.

For Nafziger, coming from a small town like Three Lakes and battling challenges like low team numbers has been something that she hasn’t taken for granted, and it brought the opportunity to further her athletic career. She said it has helped her work ethic and determination

“I think it has just taught me to appreciate the opportunity to play this sport at all. I’ve been able to get a lot of playing time because of our low numbers, but it’s also taught me and my team resilience,” she stated.

Both athletes will graduate from Three Lakes this May before venturing off to their respective universities in the fall.