Ashland Oredockers senior Lahaela Mika has demonstrated in her four years as a ‘Docker an irrepressible desire to excel in her every undertaking. This unusual quality has driven her to play linebacker for the varsity football team, set a state powerlifting bench press record, cruise on a snowboard at speeds fast enough to qualify for state four straight years … and now plan to get married this fall. The Ashland Daily Press caught up with Mika to discuss her many achievements, and what happens next in her busy, full life.
Question: Oh my gosh Lahaela, so many sports. Was there a big moment?
Answer: Throughout my years of competing, I’ve never had a crazy standout moment in a specific sport. But whether it was the first time I stepped onto the varsity football field and a kid came up to me after a play, grabbed my helmet and said: “You’re doing a great job, keep up the hard work!” Or at a powerlifting meet on my last bench attempt with the whole gym was cheering for me and I get the weight up; to the feeling of being a senior and it’s the last football game; covering the last snowboarding course with the people who became like a little family, the last competitive powerlifting event each and every one of those memories will stand out as significant and satisfying experiences in my athletic career.
Q: Is there a lesson you’ve taken from doing sports?
A: Each one of these moments has taught me I can do things I never thought I would be capable of. That I am stronger than I ever thought I could be; my mental game is what I’m most grateful for. I am able to work hard at my job — I can find the problem and figure out the solution. I wouldn’t be able to do this without all the experiences throughout my high school years.
Q: Is there anything you’d do differently?
A: Take care of my injuries. The mistakes of pushing too hard and too far my freshman and sophomore years really hurt me my junior and senior years (in performing my best at meets, etc.). But in ten, twenty, thirty years — when I can really feel the pain — I will know that I enjoyed every day of pushing and driving myself.
Q: Who inspires you, and why?
A:Two who inspire me are Mother Teresa and Sister Lucia. They both are so hardworking and selfless and always up for a challenge. If there’s work to be done whether it be for the homeless or the children, they would go above and beyond. For me whether it be in sports or at home I strive to always work hard and go above and beyond in what I do, in trying to do what is right. Both of them set such beautiful examples for me to follow.
Q: What is next for you, upon graduation?
A: I will be graduating from Northwoods Technical College’s welding program on May 17. In August, I am getting married and we plan to start my grandpa’s farm back up, being the fifth generation farmers at that farm. I plan to help coach powerlifting at Ashland High School. I am currently a CNA and am planning on continuing working there for a long time; and God willing, getting a job at the church in youth ministry.
Q: What advice would you give to your fifth grade self?
A: I would say: ‘It’s all worth it in the end.’ And that would be it — short and sweet. And little me would’ve probably thought about (this advice) for weeks.
Q: So much physical effort to do your sports — how about training?
A: Some different aspects of training: I work out five times a week. I eat well, take care of my body. Rest and stretching. I try to be outside or doing something productive daily — that’s what has kept me at a high performance level. My favorite sport is powerlifting and I enjoy the tough mental aspect; to push myself to see how strong I could get and how fine tuned I could get my muscles.
Q: Please describe what drives you.
A: My younger years of high school I always wanted to be the best and the strongest. I am a competitive person and I never wanted to lose so that always pushed me to the next level. Now what drives me is my future husband and kids. To be the best for them in every aspect of life. To work hard, to raise my children … to learn right from wrong. And (for myself) learning how to provide and take care of them.
Q: Leadership must be very important to you ….
A: Leadership is a gift that is very valuable. Whether in the workforce or at school and in sports. I learned that if a leader is needed? I am always 100% ready to help others be the best they can be. But if someone else is wanting to be in the leadership role, I don’t have a problem with letting them step up and explore what they can do in that leadership position.
Q: How are you feeling about graduating?
A: I am so happy to be done. I am grateful for these years of learning but I am even more grateful to be out of there and onto the next phase of my life. I’m excited to work out and do yoga … (but) not as intense as these past four years. I’m even more excited to help the kids younger than me, see the potential each one of them has somewhere inside of them. I’m beyond excited to get married and start a family, to take care of my animals, make homemade meals and tend to my garden.
Q: You may wish to coach powerlifting one day. What will you be mindful of based on your experiences as an athlete?
A: To remember that they’re still kids and learning — but to not treat them as little kids. T put (myself) in their position and remember when I was that age. Be someone who these kids can look up to inside and outside the school. Hold the kids who are ready to a higher standard but not leave the “not so athletic or smart” kids in the dust. Push all the kids to what they’re capable of. Lastly, never judge a book by its cover. If a kid has bad grades, yes help them learn what they can and help them pass, but also help them find what they’re good at. Everyone is good at something and it can always be turned into something positive.
Q: Please use three words to describe yourself.
A: Faith, Family, Farming.
Q: You’re known to be an extremely focused person …
A: I like to think and be in silence a lot. So in meaningful, challenging, or high stress situations? I say a prayer and I’m able to stay calm and focused.
Q:Your record of unusual achievements and willingness to go your way into things makes you an interesting outlier. What sparks this?
A: The Lord. It doesn’t matter who likes you or doesn’t like you at school. It doesn’t matter whether you placed first or last, fell asleep in class or got 100% on your test. For me, throughout my life, no matter what life threw at me, the Lord was always by my side, and I could always count on Him. The only reason I am where I am today is because of my faith. If I didn’t have my faith, there’s no way I could’ve achieved what I have. And there’s no way I would have all my ducks in a row and be getting married at age 18.
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