Shawano’s Reed, Weinig playing collegiate sports

Both athletes staying in state
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Shawano Community High School graduates Rachel Reed and Morgan Weinig are both set to play sports at the collegiate level.

Reed is headed to Concordia University to play for the volleyball team, while Weinig will continue her track and field career at UW-River Falls.

“It means a lot to me that I’m able to complete in college for volleyball,” said Reed. “I have worked so many years at volleyball and it paid off. It also means a lot because I have had aunts and cousins on both sides of my family excel in volleyball, some have also played at the college level.”

“It means so much to me to be able to compete at the college level,” said Weinig. “It means that all of my hard work and patience has finally paid off and that I am getting to do what I have dreamed of since middle school. It also means that I made it farther than some thought I would when I first started throwing.”

Reed’s recruiting process began when she was 14. While she was playing for a 17-and-under team for Shawano Storm Volleyball Club, a coach from Milwaukee reached out to club director Linda Beversdorf inquiring about Reed.

Reed went on to play for club teams in Green Bay and Appleton, allowing her to travel around the Midwest playing volleyball and getting noticed by several other college coaches. She also created highlight videos, reached out to coaches and went to prospect camps at colleges.

The Shawano grad admitted it was challenging at times to play club volleyball along with her three high school sports — volleyball, basketball and track and field — but added it was needed to get exposed to college coaches and eventually play collegiately. Reed considered between 15-20 schools before cutting it down to six and then three before deciding on Concordia.

“Concordia appealed to me the most all through high school,” said Reed. “It’s a medium size school, which I like for education and learning purposes. I really liked when I toured it that kids were out and about having fun. I really liked the players and coaching staff, they really get to know who you are outside of the volleyball court as well. Also, the facilities at Concordia are very nice for a Division III school.”

Weinig’s journey to college athletics began after filling out a recruiting form and having a college coach reach out to her less than four hours later asking her to come visit. That college coach was from UW-River Falls.

Weinig spoke with a couple other schools about potentially joining their teams, but the “home feeling” she got after visiting UW-River Falls was something the other schools couldn’t replicate.

“I chose to go to River Falls because this is one of the only schools that has my major,” said Weinig. “I also fell in love with the campus and the environment on campus. Lastly, I chose to go to UWRF because of the location of the facilities and the new Falcon Center that was just built.”

Both Shawano athletes are excited for the higher level of competition that college brings and are eager to help their teams.

“Concordia is very well known for volleyball, they have been conference champs a lot in the past years,” said Reed. “My goal is to win conference, and get on all-conference teams while at Concordia! Also, go to the NCAA Division III tournament, that would be awesome.”

“My goals for college are to go and do my best, make an impact in whatever way possible and soak it all up cause it’s not something everyone gets to do in life,” said Weinig.

A story on the four Shawano boys athletes that will play collegiately can be found at http://newmedia-wi.com/content/4-shawano-boys-playing-collegiate-sports.

sports@newmedia-wi.com