WINONA, Minn. - Rina Niehoff was a member of the Winona State Softball (2017-2018) and Tennis (2019-2021) teams during her time at Winona State. Niehoff earned her bachelor's degree in Social Studies Secondary Teaching in 2021. She is currently working on completing her master's degree in Education Leadership, also through Winona State. Niehoff was recognized as an NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award recipient, which honors graduating seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. Additionally, she was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. This honor is given to student-athletes who achieve a 3.60 cumulative GPA or higher. Niehoff also received the WSU Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award in 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022, which recognizes student-athletes who achieve a semester GPA of 3.20 or higher.
 
 
What was your favorite sports memory during your time at WSU?
My true senior year (2020-21) season we were seeded second in the conference tournament. Above us at the 1-seed was Augustana and below was Moorehead at the 3-seed. In the first weekend of the season, we had lost to Moorehead 3-4 in a very tight match. Fast forward to the last week of the season at the conference tournament, we were set out to play them in the semifinals. I won my individual match before the rest of the team was done and the overall match was still undecided. The last match came down Brooklyn Jorgensen. The final score and who would move on to the finals was determined by her outcome. She had to win a set tiebreaker (7 points) to clinch the match. My absolute most favorite moment at Winona State was the moment she won that last point. Still thinking about the excitement, pride, and pure joy in her smile brings tears to my eyes. In that moment, it wasn't about being an individual athlete or any stats or awards. That moment was all of the hours of hard practices, all of the early morning lifting, all of the ups and downs throughout the season, every girl on the team's hard work, all culminated in a single winning shot and a smile that could make anyone fall in love with the game of tennis. That moment was about being a Warrior and the journey of a team coming together to overcome.
 
What would you say is your greatest athletics and/or academic accomplishment during your time at WSU?
Being honored as a Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction recipient and graduating summa cum laude. I was also selected as the "Outstanding Student" for my degree program, among all graduating seniors.
 
How has your WSU athletics experience been influential throughout your life?
Winona State allowed me to flourish as an athlete, student, and leader. Both academics and athletics pushed me to limits I did not think I could overcome. However, it has now created a person I am so proud to be. I am incredibly proud to say I am an Winona State alum. Winona State changed my life in such an amazing way and helped lead me into a career and life I am loving!
 
What is your current occupation, and what are your career goals?
I am currently a high school social studies teacher in Lake City, Minnesota.

What advice would you give to current WSU student-athletes?
I hope that everyone that becomes a Winona State athlete learns and eventually feels what it truly means to be a Warrior. Throughout the years, I hope all of our athletes experience what it means to truly go to battle alongside their teammates and truly and completely play for each other. When competing at such a high level with high stakes, sometimes we lose sight of why we enjoy playing our sport, and it can become so frustrating and high-pressured that we lose the passion we once had. I want current and future WSU athletes to enjoy the process and find value in all of the hard work. We are so lucky to be able to play at the level we do. I want current and future players to enjoy it and never lose sight of their "why."
 
Please include any additional information you would like to share.
Favorite part about Tennis at Winona State was my teammates and the culture carried throughout the program. Through the different teammates that I had, one thing never changed- the commitment of hard work that every single girl demanded of themselves and of their teammates. Between having classes all day long, then practicing, and still trying to balance a social life and other hobbies- being a student-athlete is not easy. However, my teammates would bring passion and 100% effort to every single thing they did. Whether it was bringing that energy and determination to a drill on the court or nailing a difficult exam in the classroom. My teammates were constantly there for me when I needed them and ready to walk with me in difficult times. My teammates pushed me to be better every single day even when I didn't believe in myself or my own abilities. They taught me how to address adversity with grace, how to win and lose graciously and respectfully, and overall taught me what it meant to be a Warrior. I am the person I am today because of every individual impact each one of my teammates had on me. I will be forever thankful that I was lucky enough to be teammates with some of the most amazing women on this planet.
 
 
If any current Warrior student-athletes are interested in connecting with Rina, please reach out to your SAS team advisor to get her contact information.
 
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