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Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Emily Herzberg, Melrose-Mindoro

01/30/2020, 10:15am CST
By Norbert Durst

Herzberg at 2019 WIAA state tournament

Name: Emily Herzberg
School: Melrose-Mindoro High School
Year: Senior 

Volleyball Honors: Four-time first-team all-Dairyland for the Mustangs... coached by Jenna Kowalke... helped lead the Mustangs to three consecutive Dairyland titles... reached regional finals the past three years... named to La Crosse Tribune first-team all-area as a senior, honorable mention as a junior... finished career with a school-record 1,497 kills... 

Basketball Honors: Four-year starter for coach Joey Arneson and the Mustangs... entered her senior year as a two-time first-team all-conference performer... earned honorable mention all-league as a freshman... two-time honorable mention WBCA all-state and AP all-state... has helped the Mustangs to back-to-back Division 4 state runner-up finishes... two-time La Crosse Tribune all-region team... Currently averaging 15 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.8 steals, 1.1 blocks for the Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in Division 4 with a 14-1 record... part of senior class that has compiled a 91-5 record with just under half the season remaining... committed to play basketball for head coach Aaron Johnson at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University... 

Track & Field Honors: Enters her senior year as a three-year letter-winner for coach Tory Lockington and the Mustangs... 12-time Dairyland Conference champion... 11-time sectional qualifier and 7-time state qualifier... finished third in the 200 and 400 at the state meet at a freshman... sophomore year at state, finished fourth in the 4x200, fifth in the 4x100 and seventh in the 200... finished second in the triple jump as a junior at the state meet... Melrose-Mindoro school record holder in 400, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, triple jump... 

Favorite Sport (and why): "I’ve played basketball since I was really little, and it has been part of my life ever since then. It’s been a sport that has taught me so many important life lessons and has brought some of my now best friends into my life. I believe that basketball is a sport that you can always keep getting better at, and I like the challenge in that." 

Best Part of High School Sports (and why): "The best part of high school sports is getting to play with my friends in front of a super supportive community. The stands are filled for every game, and it’s been so fun to see the culture change for the young kids."  

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "My high school basketball coach, Joey Arneson, tells us to “Take in every moment.” This has been a very impactful message for me, especially my senior year. We’ve gotten to be a part of so many great memories, and I want to be able to remember them when I’m older."  

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "When we played Cochrane-Fountain City in the regional championship game my freshman year in basketball. I loved this game because I’d never been in a setting so loud and exciting before, and it was the first time I had ever played in front of a 'standing room only' crowd. Another really big memory of mine was when we played Colfax at River Falls in the Sectional Championship game for basketball my sophomore year. Winning this game meant that we got to move onto the state tournament, and that was the first time any girls basketball team from Melrose-Mindoro had made it to state for basketball."

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "The best part of playing three sports is getting to have the change throughout each year. I like that you always have to be in shape and I get to compete in many different ways." 

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The toughest part about playing three sports is balancing your time and your schoolwork, as well as the toll it can take on your body."

Favorite Opponent (and why): "My favorite opponent is Bangor because they are close to us and they’ve been very successful in many of the same sports we have been. We play them in basketball every season, and I’ve had to compete against some of their very good athletes in track. In track I compete in the relays that they are very good at, and I always did triple jump against Ashlie Lockington who is running track in college." 

Favorite Professional Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite Professional Athlete: "Patrick Mahomes is my favorite professional athlete because you can tell he plays his sport to have fun and he brings a new craft to football."

Favorite College Team: Wisconsin Badger Football and Volleyball

Cumulative GPA: 3.921

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against (and why): "Lexi Donarski, she’s been the toughest athlete I’ve ever competed against and in every single sport. Her and I are very alike in our athletic abilities and it’s always a good challenge in a big rivalry game." 

Most Admired High School Teammate (and why): "Mesa Byom and Calette Lockington. The three of us have been playing together in basketball since we were in 4th grade and I’ve also gotten to play volleyball with both of them all through high school. We even played AAU basketball together for most of out careers. Mesa is my best friend, and I’m excited to get to play basketball with her another four years at SDSU." 

College Plans: "I’m going to South Dakota State to play Division 1 basketball and study pharmacy." 

Activities Outside of Sports: "Outside of sports I’ve showed horses ever since I was four. I’ve traveled all over the country and won many national championships and two world championships. Because of spending the summers showing horses, I’ve made many friends from all over and I’ve gotten to be a competitor in a way that not very many other people get to experience. I am also very active in our school with student council and I am the Vice President of our senior class." 

I Find it Relaxing to: "To relax I like going to the lake in the summer and hang out with friends." 

Favorite TV Show: "My favorite TV show is any show that is a part of The Bachelor." 

Favorite Movie: "My favorite movie is Creed." 

Favorite Musical Artist: "I like Khalid, all of his songs have good vibes."

Favorite Subject: "I like all the science classes I’ve taken, but Chemistry and Physics were my favorite." 

Favorite Restaurant: "I love going to Panera." 

Favorite Website: "I like any website that I can shop on." 

Other Family Members: "My parents are Troy and Liz Herzberg. I have an older brother, Zach, who is a sophomore at Iowa State and a younger brother, Eric, who is 12."

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