'I'd come home in tears': Sheboygan Falls' Rachel Halverson shined despite shin splints

SHEBOYGAN FALLS — Rachel Halverson did a little bit of everything for the Sheboygan Falls Falcons girls track and field team.

She ran hurdles, sprints and did jumps. Did so at a state-qualifying level, too.

Halverson, the 2024 Lakeshore Elite girls track and field athlete of the week, made state in both the 100 hurdles and long jump, finishing third in Division 2 in the long jump to earn silver.

Lakeshore Elite is an all-area team comprised of schools from Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties.

While this might not seem overly noteworthy, doing all this while battling shin splints to the point of excruciating pain puts things into perspective as to just what Halverson endured this season.

“Was terrible,” Halverson said of her injury, which was a constant problem. “There were nights I’d come home in tears, wondering if I was going to be able to walk tomorrow. It was physically and emotionally painful. Ice baths and ibuprofen were my best friends.”

The standout senior was in constant communication with her coaches and the athletic training staff, sometimes unable to practice before meets in order to limit the wear and tear.

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“Running in meets in pain isn’t fun,” Halverson said.

Sheboygan Falls coach Linda Goedert thinks Halverson is one the best athletes she’s coached in 33 years, and the best female athlete in her 17 years at Sheboygan Falls.

“Phenomenal athlete, willing to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Goedert said.

Both coach and athlete talked about the pressure Halverson faced as a three-time state qualifier and unquestioned leader on the team.

“You go to state three years in a row, the pressure is on you to make it back,” Goedert said. “At all the big events I’d put her in four individual events, that’s a lot of pressure too but she handled it like a champ.”

Added Halverson:

“It was a lot of pressure on me, even as a veteran,” Halverson said. “I was expected to place in the top three or win every single event which put pressure on me. It helped me become the athlete I was though.”

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What made Halverson so successful according to Goedert was the senior’s desire to not simply coast solely on her immense natural athletic abilities.

“She really focused in the offseason to get better, naturally talented and a hard worker,” Goedert said. “She has confidence with cockiness.”

Its that hard work and determination Halverson wishes is her legacy.

“I really hope everyone doesn’t just look at the stats and records,” Halverson said. “I want them to focus on how I was as a teammate and my work ethic. You do things individually in track but you’re still a team in the end. You have to put the team above yourself.”

Lakeshore Elite girls track and field team

Athlete of the year: Rachel Halverson, sr., Sheboygan Falls

Honorable mention

Tessa Campbell, jr., Manitowoc Lincoln; Destiny Duesterbeck , jr., Sheboygan North; Kennedy Kneser, so., Oostburg; Maddison McDole, so., Kiel; Aubree Theune, fr., Oostburg; Nora Halverson, fr., Sheboygan Falls; Brienna Bramstedt, so., Howards Grove; Sophie Beightol, jr., Cedar Grove-Belgium; Maggie Behler, fr., Kohler; Libby Schmidt, sr., Roncalli; Paige Kurlinski, jr., Ozaukee; Jenna Dirks, so., Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah; Fiona Shields, sr., Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah; Kaitlyn Feldmann, jr., Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah; Grace Mueller, sr., Roncalli; Elizabeth Blauert, jr., Manitowoc Lutheran.

Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Lakeshore Elite: Sheboygan Falls' Rachel Halverson athlete of the year