Oct 14, 2025
Raina Ledzian
FELCH TOWNSHIP — All competitive athletes desire to win championships. And there’s nothing wrong with striving for individual accolades, either.
Those are the tangible goals, those that are written in historical accounts.
But there are other benefits to seek for those who choose to participate in sports, benefits that can profoundly impact both the athlete’s life and those around her or him.
For athletics provides an arena in which growth, both athletic and personal, can be achieved.
Though months away from the end of her athletic career at North Dickinson High School, senior three-sport athlete Raina Ledzian has already made a substantial impact on her volleyball, basketball and track teams, both with her play and presence.
“Everyone is better for having Raina as a teammate,” ND volleyball coach Taylor Johnson said of her three-year setter. “She has a way of lifting up those around her, both through her skills and her encouragement. It’s been incredible to watch her grow from a somewhat shy sophomore running the floor into a confident, humble senior who commands it. Truly, our heart and soul runs through Raina.”
Ledzian’s statistical impact on the Nordics volleyball team this fall has been enormous. The 17-year-old Iron Mountain resident routinely fills the stat sheet in assists, kills, aces and digs. As such, she was selected to the Division 4 all-U.P. first team in 2024 and has been named to the Skyline Central Conference first-team the previous two seasons.
Ledzian recently sat down with The Daily News to talk about her time on the volleyball court and more.
Q: You were hurt to start this season. What happened?
A: It was two days before the Kingsford invitational. We were playing this game (in practice) and me and another player challenged each other on (either side) of the net. We both went up, we landed, not sure if her foot was over the line or my foot was over, but my ankle just came down and went fully outward.
Q: Were you worried that your senior season was going to be over?
A: I was hoping it wasn’t anything really serious, but it was definitely scary at the time. I was emotional, but we got through it. It was very bruised, sprained. I was about for about two weeks.
Q: While you sat out the Kingsford Invitational, you were very involved on the bench. How were you helping?
A: It’s really hard for Taylor to see everything on the court. She’s worrying about so much stuff, so just having somebody else on the bench, I knew it was something I could do. So, I was just watching our back row. I could see our holes, so I’d yell out, tell them where to fix it.
Q: How is your ankle now?
A: It feels much better.
Q: Sometimes when athletes get hurt, they worry about repeating the injury. Have you?
A: Honestly, I feel like it was a minor injury. It happened and I’m kind of over it.
Q: How has your team been playing?
A: I think we’ve been playing pretty good. We’ve definitely improved our defense a lot. Our offense has gotten better. There’s still a lot of room for improvements, but I’m really proud of how far we’ve come as a team.
Q: As a freshman, you played on the junior varsity team. How did your game improve on the JV team?
A: Overall, I got so much better at fundamentals. I had problems pushing to the pin when I was setting.
Q: Was that because of strength or technique?
A: A lot of it was technique. My elbows were too far out; I just wasn’t getting (the ball) out there.
Q: How long did it take to correct that?
A: It was an ongoing problem. I kept going back to my (habits). It took a while, but I think I’m a lot better at it.
Q: Say you and I were picking all-star teams made up of the best players in the U.P. I will give you the first choice, which position would you pick?
A: That’s a hard question. I think I would pick an outside (hitter), just because they have to be skilled in many different positions. So, they’re not just hitting outside, they’re also going back row, they have to be strong back row as well as front row. And I feel like they are a key player.
Q: What do you think the key components of leadership are?
A: I think leadership is basically confidence, like you have to be confident in what you’re saying. It’s also empathy, I feel like you don’t want to come off as harsh.
Q: Do you think a leader needs to be demanding sometimes?
A: I think it’s really a mix. It’s not just one specific component. It’s a bunch. I feel like being demanding (depends) on an individual’s personality. If they’re more of a sensitive person, if you keep on yelling at them, it’s not going to work.
Q: Is your personality off the court the same as your personality on the court?
A: On the court, I think I’m a lot louder, I’m much more vocal. Off the court I would say I’m a little bit more quiet, especially if I’m not around my friends.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being a raving lunatic, how competitive are you?
A: (Laughs). If 10 is a raving lunatic, I would probably go 8.5. I am very competitive and do not enjoy losing.
Q: Are you proud of your athletic career so far?
A: I am. I think I have a lot more to improve on and I’m not at my highest point, but I am proud of how far I’ve come since freshman year.
Q: Where does your love of volleyball come from?
A: My sister Skye. She started me into it. She brought me to practice. I was the manager.
Q: What has been the hardest sport you’ve tried?
A: I was very, very bad at softball. I was not good. I tried it for one year. I just wasn’t very good, not at all.
Q: Are you stubborn or easy going?
A: I’m more go with the flow. I think everything happens for a reason.
Q: What’s your least favorite chore?
A: I’d say dishes. I really do not like doing those.
Q: What jobs have you had?
A: Freshman through sophomore, I worked at a restaurant. This summer I worked at an assisted living home. I currently work at Queen City Running.
Q: What are your hobbies, what do you like to do with your free time?
A: I really enjoy snowboarding, I started a few years ago. I go fishing quite often.
Q: Do you like living in the U.P.
A: I do.
Q: What do you like about it?
A: I know a lot of people don’t, but I like the weather, I like the cold. And I like lakes.
Q: Did you have any fears?
A: So, I am very terrified of clowns. I think it’s just when I was young, I saw them online and it just stuck with me. And my other one, I’m terrified of open water.
Q: Afraid of drowning?
A: Not drowning, just what’s in it.
Q: Have you always been afraid of that?
A: Yeah. When I was little, I would make someone jump in before me.
Q: Do you like Halloween?
A: I do enjoy Halloween.
Q: What about it?
A: I think the weather. I love the weather.
Q: Do you still trick or treat?
A: I do not.
Q: What costumes did you wear when you were a kid?
A: I was a witch for one of them and I remember I was a poodle once.
Q: Do you think someone should have to wear a costume to get candy?
A: I think so. I think it’s just the tradition.
Q: You can’t just show up, right?
A: Exactly.
Q: Do you have any comfort foods?
A: If I’m having a really hard day, I really like chocolate ice cream.
Q: Ever eat the whole container?
A: (Laughs). No, not the whole thing. Just like a few scoops. I’m like, just a few and I should probably stop.
Q: What’s the best thing about being a teenager and the worst thing about being a teenager?
A: The best thing I would say is hanging out with all of your friends, And then the worst thing, I would just say the comparison, comparing yourself to others.
Q: What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A: I wanted to go into the Air Force for the longest time. I was into Pararescue.
Q: What are you interested in now?
A: I’m going into nursing, for emergency medicine. Then I want to be a life flight nurse.
Q: Do you want to stay in the U.P. after you graduate or do you want to go somewhere else?
A: I am looking forward to venturing off. I’m going to miss the community and people but I’m ready to go. I think it’s good to put myself out there and get new surroundings.
Ironwood built at 34-6 halftime lead and went on to defeat Forest Park 64-42 in Great Lakes Eight Conference-West …
NEWBERRY — A special football season for the Norway football team got more memorable Friday night when the UPSSA …
FLORENCE, Wis. — Brayden Bartels ran for one touchdown and threw for another while Connor Guardiola scored on a …
Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan, Inc. | https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com | 215 E. Ludington, Iron Mountain, MI 49801 |
