Driven, self-aware, composed, inspiring.
These are a few of the words that come to mind after chatting with five Edina High School seniors spotlighted this month as Edina Magazine’s 2016 prep elite students. But another adjective that keeps fluttering through this writer’s mind actually describes me: old. I’m not referring to nagging lower back pain or gray hairs. It’s just that listening to a day in the life of a typical teenager has me ready for a nap. These hard-working scholars carry full course loads jam-packed with accelerated classes and then zoom off to soccer practice, hockey practice, swim practice or orchestra rehearsal. They volunteer for local organizations, travel on church mission trips and participate in mentor programs. But then, these teens are anything but typical.
Rachel Wittmer | Mentor
Stroke, stroke, breathe. Stroke, stroke, breathe. As Rachel Wittmer swims the 50-yard freestyle sprint, she clears her mind of nearly everything. “My mind goes blank,” she says. “If I think too much, I mess myself up.” So instead, she focuses on her breath and punching that touchpad at the end of the race.
Clearing her mind of everything else in her life is hard to do. As swim team captain, Rachel is constantly mentoring other swimmers, both in and out of the pool. She is the epitome of what it means to never give up.
At 14, Rachel had one of the best races of her life. She made the first round of Olympic trials in the 50-meter freestyle.
When she’s not swimming, she plays on a different kind of team—an orchestra. As a violinist, Rachel sees value in being a multi-faceted student.
“Playing violin in orchestra is such a different role from swimming,” she says. “They provide a good balance for me.”
Rachel plans to continue swimming and playing violin in college.
Ryan Moon | Leader
After his soccer games, you can find Ryan Moon and the rest of his team at Perkins. He orders one of three things: salmon, potpie or the Tremendous 12.
“The team makes fun of me for my dinner choices,” he says. “But I look at it as a time to build team chemistry and make memories.”
A member of the varsity soccer team since he was a freshman, Ryan served as captain during his junior year and will hold that role again this year.
“This is a great opportunity for me to use my voice and guide my teammates,” he says. “I want to lead by example. I want to be a role model.”
A varsity hockey player as well, Ryan has a full schedule. But this honor-roll student makes it clear that academics come first. He plans to play soccer in college, but that is secondary to his dream of becoming a surgeon.
“I was able to shadow a cardiologist [at North Memorial Hospital] who did a surgery right in front of my eyes,” says Ryan, who now volunteers at Fairview Southdale Hospital. “I knew then that that’s what I want to do. I want to help people.” He laughs and adds, “I’d better get ready for 13 [more] years of school.”
Max Kuhs | Dedicated teammate
Cross-country captain Max Kuhs views his teammates as family. That’s one reason that, when the distance runner started experiencing pain under his kneecap, his first thought was of his team. And when that same pain forced him to take a leave mid-season, it was his team that inspired and motivated him to recover and return even stronger than before.
“That first run after a month of being off was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Max says.
Also part of the Nordic ski team and track and field team, Max knows the value of working together for a common goal. It’s the same goal he has for his other passion, orchestra. He plays the upright bass.
A member of the school orchestra and the prestigious Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Max loves being a part of the music community and mentoring younger musicians.
“Whether it’s on the field or in the orchestra hall, we are all working toward one goal,” Max says. “I love helping my teammates and fellow musicians.”
Eva Anderson | Multi-Tasker
Eva Anderson has no trouble being known as the jock at orchestra practice. In fact, she proudly wears her green and white warm-ups to Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies rehearsal, where she plays the cello Monday nights after soccer practice.
“My mom meets me at orchestra rehearsal with a real dinner,” Eva says. “Mashed potatoes, steak, pasta…whatever my family had for dinner that night, I get to eat, too.”
Eva not only plays for the Edina High School soccer team, but also for the elite Minnesota Thunder Academy, a premier national girls’ league of the top clubs in the country.
“I’m surrounded by girls who are dedicated to the sport,” Eva says of MTA. “But I love playing for my school. The team chemistry is so great and our fan support is the best.”
Interested in math and science, Eva plans to study engineering or pre-med, as she’s interested in prosthetics and medical devices.
“I want to make a true difference,” she says. “I want to do something that’s breaking new ground.”
Anna Goldstein | Goalie/Yogi
Anna is a hockey goalie with the heart of a yogi. During the most stressful moments of her hockey career, like playing in the state championship at Xcel Energy Center, she channels her meditative techniques to remain calm and level-headed.
Balancing hockey, lacrosse, a full course load and church mission trips, Anna is constantly working to achieve harmony in her life.
“When you have a heavy course load but your team is depending on you, you can’t skip practice. But you also can’t skip homework,” she says. “Sometimes my sleep and social life suffer. In the end, I’m left with this awesome feeling of accomplishment. It’s all worth it.”
Anna plans to study pre-med in college, while—you guessed it—making her balancing act look effortless.
