Northwestern high school junior Michaela Geissler plays for the Superior Spartan girls hockey team. After former captain and current D1 player Autumn Cooper graduated, there was an open position. The two assistant captains last year were junior Adalyn Benson and senior Kenlyn Thimm. Benson stepped up to fill the shoes of Cooper in the head captain position. The Lady Spartans got to vote on who they felt would be the best leader to step in for the new season. For many it was Geissler, she was voted as assistant captain. 

“Michaela is an amazing leader!  She was voted assistant captain by her teammates!  She’s quiet, but leads by example!  Her leadership qualities are intuitive! Michaela is honest, hard-working, extremely intelligent, and does not settle for just being good!  She wants to be great!” Head coach Doug Trentor expresses about his new assistant captain. 

Northwestern and Superior High School have just recently co-opted for girls hockey. They’ve been co-op for three years. There are three girls from Northwestern playing for the Spartans. So far, there has not been one Northwestern captain on the team. That makes Geissler the first to be so solidifying her part in Spartan and Tiger history. 

“Even though she goes to a different school she has great communication skills, whether it’s a change in the schedule or practice time she is great at communicating that with the whole team. She is a good leader on and off the ice as well,” said junior defenseman Madelyn Bachand. 

Although she goes to a school 30 minutes away from the rink she has really good time management, she’s always on time to practice, and is able to get there and do all the captain responsibilities while managing her time well. When Geissler arrived her teammates accepted her as one of their own.  There is absolutely no hiccup in rapport building with her teammates and friend.

“The way she is able to lead but also be friends with everyone is great. She is able to put stuff aside to be able to lead the team. She is really good at making decisions which helps out a lot and communicating to the coaches and teammates,” said sophomore Aaliyah Haroldson.  

Geissler made her captain debut in the Spartans first game against Eau Claire North. Geissler got to show off the “A” for assistant captain in their new jerseys for the first time on Nov. 22. The Spartans started off their season strong with a win over the Huskies, 2-1, and followed that up with a win at their home opener over Chippewa Fall, 4-3. Then a win at their traditional “Ugly Sweater game,” over Moose Lake, 4-2. 

The Spartans started off really strong with a record of 3-0 and will face their next competitors, Two Harbors on Dec. 10.