Rice Lake's Sheplee named WIAA Scholar Athlete

Rice Lake High School senior Eliana Sheplee was one of 32 student-athletes statewide named Scholar Athletes by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

To determine the top award recipients, four boys and four girls were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement from each of the four WIAA divisions. This year, 836 seniors were nominated for the award by 422 high schools throughout the state.

“Each of these remarkable student-athletes has excelled in academics and athletics,” said WIAA Assistant Director Tom Shafranski. “Seventeen of this year’s 32 WIAA Scholar-Athlete finalists have a grade-point average of 4.0 to date.

“When you combine all 32 scholar-athlete GPAs, the average is 3.9,” he added. “This year’s honorees have already earned a total of 323 varsity letters during their first 3½ years of high school. That’s an average of 10 letters per athlete, and we have not yet completed our spring sports season.”

Sheplee has earned 11 varsity letters throughout her career participating in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She is a three-time state champion and the state record-holder in the 400-meter dash. Sheplee also brought home a state championship in the 200-meter dash as a sophomore and is a three-time all-conference performer. She is the Warriors' all-time leading scorer in basketball and is a three-time all-conference selection. Sheplee also helped the volleyball team to a sectional championship as a senior. She received all-conference honors three times in volleyball.

“Sports are like life: We have ups and downs, wins and losses," Sheplee said, "but we can enjoy the journey and learn along the way. We will not always get to compete how we want, but we can be grateful for the learning that comes with the journey.”

Sheplee plans to participate in basketball and track and field and study business at the University of Northern Iowa.

The award recipients will be recognized at the 2024 WIAA Scholar-Athlete Ceremony May 5 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. Joe Delagrave, a two-time Paralypmic medalist and current head coach of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team, will be the keynote speaker.

A live stream of the awards program will be available on the websites of the State Television Network stations, including WQOW-TV, at 1 p.m. A delayed telecast of the ceremony will be aired May 12 at 1 p.m.