Edina High School senior Kaylee Idrogo-Lam has a lot to juggle; she plays three varsity sports: lacrosse, hockey, and soccer. If that isn’t impressive enough, she serves as captain for all of them. Her hard work and dedication have earned her the coveted 2025 Athena Award, which recognizes excellence in individual and team sports.
Sports have been present in Idrogo-Lam’s life since childhood. “I started playing soccer when I was really little, and then played a bunch of different sports from there,” she said.
A life filled with sports has taught her many things. “I’ve definitely learned determination, especially in a game or throughout the season, and also time management,” she said.
The Athena Award is highly competitive, and to win it, one must go above and beyond. Katie Aafedt, former EHS girls soccer head coach and Idrogo-Lam’s former coach, believes she merits the award because “[Idrogo-Lam] is ridiculously athletic. It’s hard for someone to make not only three varsity sports at Edina but to contribute and do well… I think she’s one of the most qualified athletes that Edina’s had in a long time,” she said.
Idrogo-Lam has seen success in all of her sports. Her hockey team won two state championships, one in 2021 and another in 2024. She won the soccer state championship in 2023 and finished as the runner-up in the lacrosse state championship. “I think she’s so deserving because she’s worked so hard for so many years… and I’m very proud of all the things she’s accomplished in all of her accolades,” senior Camille Dubuc, Idrogo-Lam’s close friend and teammate, said.
To be a captain, leadership ability is non-negotiable. “[Captaincy] is voted by the team plus coaches, so you have to have the characteristics of a leader, a high work ethic, and the respect from your teammates and coaches as well,” Aafedt said.
To Idrogo-Lam, winning this award means joining the likes of EHS students she’s looked up to: “Izzy Engle and Uma Corniea are huge role models for me,” she said. “I hope that I can be that for someone else, especially being a part of the sports community here at Edina.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 8, 2025
