Carly Lemke achieved a rare trifecta this month. By earning a berth to the WIAA state basketball tournament, Lemke added another chapter to her successful high school sports career, with her last three seasons finishing at the state meet.
Lemke, of Oconto Falls, competed in the state basketball tournament Friday, the state volleyball tournament in 2011 and 2013, and the state track meet in 2013.
Although each sports season is special, Lemke admitted she has a favorite.
“I definitely love volleyball, but right now, basketball is pretty exciting, too,” she said, acknowledging the euphoria of a state-tournament run.
The multi-sport standout earned another honor this month, winning the prestigious Excellence Scholarship from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation.
The $1,000 award is granted Wisconsin high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in academics, a high motivation to achieve, and a broad range of activity and leadership outside the academic setting.
“Whether she is involved in choir, athletics, academics or community, she gives her very best and always with a positive attitude,” said Amy Thiel, Oconto Falls High School choir director. “Carly is always willing to help others and shares her many gifts and talents.”
A member of the National Honor Society, Lemke holds offices in Student Council (vice president) and choir (secretary). To create strong student organizations and successful athletic teams, Lemke said students need to put everything they have into it.
“That really describes me, putting everything I have into the activities I’m in and just giving it my all to get the best results for our school,” she said.
In an interview the week before her trip to the state basketball tournament, the 6-foot-1 senior talked about being passionate about athletics.
“Starting out with sports, I liked them here and there, and it just grew into an extreme passion of mine. I think everyone should have something like that, something they’re just really passionate about in life,” she said.
In track, Lemke competes in the shot put, discus and high jump, with high jump being her specialty. Last spring she set the school’s indoor record, 5-feet, 4-inches. Her best outdoor jump is 5-2, and she’s gunning for a 5-4 jump to set the outdoor school record, hoping for more favorable weather this season compared with 2013.
Lemke will attend St. Cloud State in Minnesota, where she earned a scholarship to play volleyball and will consider competing in high jump. She’s undecided on a major, but is leaning toward a degree in health or biology fields. She’s enrolled in college credit U.S. history and college credit human biology at Oconto Falls High School and likes studying the systems of the body.
She said sports have taught her time management skills, the importance of motivation and hard work, and the feel of success. She’s grateful for the support of her parents, Renee and Rick Lemke, who help with the “little things,” like making lunches and readying her sports gear.
It was her parents who insisted she participate in the school’s music program. No choir—no athletics, they told her as a freshman, wanting her to be a well-rounded student.
“At first I thought it was really unfair, but I’m so glad they made me do it. I absolutely love choir. It’s something completely different than the sports side of me,” she said.
Performing in the winter concert is a highlight for Lemke, who said the sense of accomplishment she feels rivals that of winning a big game.
Student Council has had a similar effect.
“I just really like feeling a part of something in the school and just making a difference. That’s what Student Council is all about,” she said.
Lemke enjoys volunteering in her mom’s 4-year-old kindergarten class in Wausaukee, babysits, and bags groceries and stocks shelves at Witt’s Piggly Wiggly.
The awards will be presented at a luncheon April 6 in Green Bay. The Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program was established by Kohl, retired U.S. senator, in 1990. To date the foundation has awarded $8.6 million to Wisconsin educators, students and schools.
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