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The Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is an honor given on WisSports.net to the top senior boys and girls three-sport athletes in the state. Players are recognized each week on WSN, with a boys and girls winner of the Pat Richter Award at the end of the season to the best three-sport athlete of the year.

The Triple Threat Athlete of the Week is presented by the U.S. Marine Corps. The award recognizes student athletes who embody the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline across multiple sports. The mission of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Milwaukee is to find qualified men and women in Wisconsin and the surrounding area interested in becoming a United States Marine. Marines maintain the legacy of the Marine Corps by winning our nations battles and returning to their communities as quality citizens whether they are active duty or reservist. The coveted title of Marine applies only to those who graduate from the Recruit Depots or Officer Candidate School. RS Milwaukee will provide any qualified man or woman the opportunity to attend the training required to become a Marine - Enlisted or Officer.

Interested in speaking with a Marine Corps recruiter? Go to: https://rmi.marines.com/request-information/RSmilwaukee

Eliana Sheplee of Rice Lake has been selected as the 2023-24 female recipient of the Pat Richter Award from WisSports.net as the U.S. Marine Corps Three-Sport Athlete of the Year.

Sheplee, an 11-time varsity letter-winner, competed in volleyball, basketball, and track & field, and was named all-state in all three sports. 

In volleyball, the 5-10 outside hitter compiled 470 kills and 294 digs on her way to earning first-team all-Big Rivers and Division 2 WVCA all-state as a senior for coach Kristen Lehman and the 29-9 Warriors. Rice Lake advanced to the WIAA state tournament before falling to state champion Xavier in a state semifinal. Sheplee finished her career with 1,117 kills and 732 digs. 

On the basketball court, the guard averaged 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per contest en route to being selected first-team all-conference and honorable mention Division 2 WBCA all-state as a senior for coach Darla Olson and the Warriors. Rice Lake reached a Division 2 regional final, ending the season with an 18-8 record. Eliana finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,555 points. She also tallied 762 rebounds and 294 steals in high school. 

In track & field, Sheplee advanced to the WIAA State Meet in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dash as a senior. She won the D2 state title in the 400m, finished second in the 200m, and sixth in the 100m, helping lead Rice Lake, coached by Brooke Schmidt, to the 2024 Division 2 team title, which they shared with Freedom. Eliana won the 400m all four years, the 25th girl in state history to win an event four times. She is the state record holder in the 400m (55.25 as a junior) and also took home the 200m state championship as a sophomore. 

When Sheplee was on WSN in September, she said her most memorable moment was winning the 400m dash in Division 2 as a freshman, which broke a 36-year-old state record. 

She also explained the best part of playing three sports:

"Getting to work hard to improve in so many different areas as well as getting to compete with so many different people. There’s always so much to get better at."

Sheplee, who plans to study business, is signed to compete in basketball and track & field at NCAA Division I University of Northern Iowa. 

To view our initial profile of Sheplee as part of our U.S. Marine Corps Triple Threat Athlete of the Week series, click here.

Past winners of the award include Meghan Schultz of New Berlin West (2022-23), Bridee Burks of Lancaster (2021-22), Katie Hildebrandt of McFarland (2020-21), Lexi Donarski of Aquinas (2019-20), Tara Stauffacher of Beaver Dam (2018-19), Caitlin Link of Madison Edgewood (2017-18), Lexi Smith of Northland Pines (2016-17), Grace Mueller of Verona (2015-16), Megan Gustafson of South Shore (2014-15), Kennedy Blahnik of Algoma (2013-14), Jenna Orr of Rice Lake (2012-13), Kailee Kamps of Belmont (2011-12), Kendall Wienkes of Highland (2010-11), and Andie Varsho of Marshfield (2009-10).