Rikki Schmidt didn't think it would ever happen, but last summer the Napoleon High School athlete became a serious fan of the Canadian Football League.

She had good reason. Her cousin, former Bismarck High all-around athlete and University of North Dakota football All-American Weston Dressler, earned rookie of the year honors the past season playing wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"I never heard much about the CFL before last summer, but me and my family learned a lot about it because of Weston," said Schmidt, whose father and Dressler's mother are siblings. "It was a lot of fun following it. Me and my two sisters are really close to Weston. He's such a great role model. We look up to him and respect him so much. It was so cool to see him make a name for himself in professional football."

Schmidt, a sophomore, is making a name for herself in the Class B track and field world. Last spring, she earned three places at the state meet, including a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash. She's looking for even bigger and better things this spring.

"I'm hoping for a repeat in the 200, and to place higher in the 100 and 400," said Schmidt, who also finished fifth in both the Class B 100 and 400 last spring. "Like everybody, I want to keep improving. I know that I'm capable of running better times. If I can do that, a lot can happen."

Those who know Schmidt well always knew that she was capable of winning state titles.

She's had a passion for running and racing for as long as she can remember. During her elementary school days, she took on all comers on the playground … and won most of the time.

"Girls or boys … it didn't matter. I just wanted to race," she said. "I loved to run races back then, and still do. I think it's in my blood."

Napoleon track and field coach Chad Lindeman began coaching Schmidt when she was a seventh-grader, but he saw her potential the previous year - his first year at Napoleon.

"Rikki would practice with us when she was a six-grader, and she was fast," Lindeman said. "She has so much natural ability, and such a strong work ethic. You knew back then that she was going to be one of the really good ones."

Schmidt went on to become one of the good ones her eighth-grade year. During the regular season, she took the 100, 200, 400 and long jump titles at the South Central Conference meet. Her postseason included a Region 4 title in the 400, and an eighth-place finish in the Class B 200.

"We sat down and discussed goals at the start of that year, and I told Rikki that I really thought she had a chance to break through and show everybody that she's one of the better athletes in the state," Lindeman said. "She was a little surprised when she heard me say that … she's pretty humble, and at that time she was only an eighth-grader who was just getting into varsity track. But I felt strongly about what I said. She had the talent and the drive to do it."

Lindeman set the bar higher when the two discussed goals Schmidt's freshman year. And what a year it turned out to be. She set school records in the 100 (12.39 seconds) and 200 (25.44), and won SCC titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump, plus a regional title in the 200. She capped off the season with a stellar performance at the state meet.

"It was such an amazing weekend. … Winning the 200 was so exciting," Schmidt said. "But I was also kind of shocked. There were so many strong runners, and I didn't really know what to expect going in. But I did well. All of the hard work I put in paid off."

Schmidt comes into this season No. 2 on the list of returning state placewinners in the 400, and No. 3 in the 100.

"Winning more than one (state title) is a very good possibility for Rikki, and she's confident that she can do it," Lindeman said. "It's going to be tough because there's always such great competition in the sprints, but she's bound and determined to make it happen."

Schmidt, who is also a standout player on the Napoleon girls basketball team, plans to run in the North Dakota Relays Friday and Saturday at the Bismarck Community Bowl. The field includes a number of the top Class A sprinters.

"I'm looking forward to it because of the competition," said Schmidt, who placed third in the 100 in last season's Relays. "It should be a lot of fun."

Returning state placewinners

100: 2. Anne Duletski, jr., Bowman County. 3. Shelby Krueger, jr., Finley-Sharon. 5. Rikki Schmidt, soph., Napoleon. 7. Julie Dinius, fr., Langdon-Munich. 8. Chelsey Opland, soph., Des Lacs-Burlington.

200: 1. Rikki Schmidt, soph., Napoleon. 2. Anne Duletski, jr., Bowman County. 4. Shelby Krueger, jr., Finley-Sharon. 6. Amber Volanti, jr., Northern Lights. 7. Maddi Lamb, sr., Nelson County. 8. Anna Knutson, sr., Velva-Drake.

400: 4. Maddi Lamb, sr., Nelson County. 5. Rikki Schmidt, soph., Napoleon. 6. Shaunessy Dauwalder, fr., Stanley-Powers Lake. 7. Kade Ross, fr., Watford City. 8. Kelsey Kraft, jr., Beulah.

800: 3. Sibee Jokela, jr., Watford City. 5. Britney Klein, jr., Garrison-Max. 8. Stephanie Deutsch, jr., Watford City.

1,600: 3. Shanice Lambert, jr., New Town. 4. Sibee Jokela, jr., Watford City. 6. Kara Kuntz, soph., Velva-Drake. 7. Tiffany Jaeger, jr., Washburn-Wilton.

3,200: 2. Shanice Lambert, jr., New Town. 5. Sydney Kraft, fr., Rugby. 7. Kelsey Lambrecht, jr., Williams County. 8. Tiffany Jaeger, jr., Washburn-Wilton.

100 hurdles: 3. Allison Opp, jr., Hazen. 5. Breanna Messer, sr., Dickinson Trinity. 7. Logan Dick, sr., Langdon-Munich.

300 hurdles: 3. Breaunna Oakland, soph., Hazen. 4. Allison Opp, jr., Hazen. 6. Ashley Berg, sr., Lisbon. 7. Ashley Salwey, sr., Rugby. 8. Abby Sprunk, sr., Central Cass.

High jump: 1. Kali Olson, jr., Lisbon. 2. Taylor Brown, soph., Cavalier. 3 (tie). Veronica Munkeby, sr., Lisbon, and Kaylin Sheets, jr., Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock. 6 (tie). Shenille Laber, soph., Napoleon.

Pole vault: 1. Abbey Aide, sr., Bottineau. 4 (tie). Moriah Skroch, soph., Milnor-Wyndmere, and Whitney Page, fr., Bottineau. 7 (tie) Shalee Dolezal, jr., Killdeer.

Long jump: 4. Sharisa Yri, jr., Benson County. 5. Allison Opp, jr., Hazen. 6. Abbey Aide, sr., Bottineau. 7. Mariah Smith, jr., Maple Valley. 8. Jamie Effertz, sr., Velva-Drake.

Triple jump: 2. Allison Opp, jr., Hazen. 3. Mariah Smith, jr., Maple Valley. 4. Beth Jochim, jr., Griggs County Central. 8. Sharisa Yri, jr., Benson County.

Shot put: 3. Kali Hook, jr., Griggs County Central. 4. Olivia Johnson, fr., Griggs County Central. 6. Kendra Thom, soph., Westhope-Newburg.

Discus: 5. Hillary Birchem, jr., Lisbon. 7. Kaylee Stein, sr., Richardton-Taylor. 8. Cass Heigaard, jr., Park River Area.

Javelin: 1. Alex Webster, sr., Rolette-Wolford. 3. Sara Jensen, sr., Montpelier. 4. Jamie Drevlow, jr., North Sargent. 5. Kelsey Thompson, sr., Cavalier. 6. Shannon Ernst, sr., Dickinson Trinity.