Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Leah Schaefer poses for a photo with her family after signing her National Letter of Intent on Monday to play softball at Northwestern College.

MARSHALL — With a quick signature, the next step to Leah Schaefer’s athletic career was complete. The Marshall senior signed her National Letter of Intent on Monday to play softball at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

Schaefer said it felt good to finally have this day come and officially be committed.

“It feels really good,” Schaefer said. “It also feels surreal just to have all of these people by my side and just to have all of my friends and family here was the most amazing feeling and to finally have this crossed off and know where I’m going is also really amazing.”

Schaefer added what drew her to Northwestern was the proximity and the ability to grow in her faith and that playing softball there was an easy decision. The Raiders went 27-18 this past spring.

“I really wanted somewhere that I was going to grow in my faith and somewhere that I was going to prosper as well as somewhere that was close to home so that I could come back and see my family and that my family was able to see me,” Schaefer said. “I think going to play softball was an easy decision just knowing that I love the sport and the college I’m going to be at.”

The past few years, Schaefer has been a key contributor for Marshall on the court, ice and diamond in tennis, hockey and softball. Schaefer attributed that success to the impact her coaches and teammates have had on her. She said her coaches have pushed her every day and shown her what it takes to work hard and be dedicated to the sport.

“My coaches have really pushed me to just show what hard work is and dedication to the sport,” Schaefer said. “I think through tennis, hockey and softball all of them across the board have shown me what it means to be dedicated to your sport.”

Schaefer added her teammates have influenced her throughout her career and she benefited a lot from competing with them every day.

“My teammates are the most influential people probably right next to my parents,” Schaefer said. “They really are my best friends and getting to compete with them every day was so important for me and just so beneficial.”

Schaefer said she plans to major in business marketing and play catcher/utility for the Raiders. Before she heads to Northwestern next fall, Schaefer still has one final spring with the MHS softball team. She said she’s looking forward to getting to be with her teammates and finishing her prep career strong.

“I’m really looking forward to just having a good season and coming out on a good finish,” Schaefer said. “Last year we had a good run but I’m really hoping for my senior season that we will be able to top it with a good ending.”