In this age of specialization, high school student-athletes playing multiple sports during the school year has become less commonplace. An exception to this rule, however, is Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Leia Hammerschmidt, who has played three varsity sports during her four years.
“I chose to play three sports in high school because I love being part of a community and utilizing my athletic abilities wherever I can,” she said. “I also just happen to really love playing sports. I think it’s a great way to engage with the school outside of academics and is honestly fun.”
In each of the last two years, Hammerschmidt, an Oak Park resident, spent her fall afternoons and evenings with OPRF’s flag football team. She helped make history her junior year, which was the first time the IHSA sponsored the sport. Last fall, she was a captain and received the 2025 Community High School All-Star Award from the Chicago Bears, and earned All-Academic honors as well.
In the winter, Hammerschmidt played varsity girls basketball three years for the Huskies, serving as a captain in junior year. Though she didn’t experience much in terms of winning, she enjoyed her hardwood time.
“Basketball taught me dedication, perseverance, and most importantly finding wins in the small things,” she said.
For the last two springs, she has been an important player for OPRF’s softball team. She admits to having a complicated relationship with the sport at times, but she also realized how fun it can be.
“My experience with varsity has been honestly riveting. We’ve had so many close games where the passion is just radiating from the field and dugout,” said Hammerschmidt. “I am so lucky to be part of such a close-knit community, as we tend to team bond at least once every other week.
Like flag football and basketball, Hammerschmidt is one of the softball captains. Entering last weekend, she was batting .458 for the season with eight home runs and 29 runs batted in while helping the Huskies to an 18-7 record.
“I think our team is beginning to gel really well together,” she said. “We have such a young team this year, so I am proud of how far we’ve come on and off the field despite our wide range of ages. I see so much potential in our group, and I am more than excited to see how we begin to perform under increasing pressures.”
This will be the final season of Hammerschmidt’s organized softball career. In the fall, she will attend the University of Florida and plans to study health science on a pre-medical track. And she has developed a good career plan.
“I plan to work as an EMT in college and then go under a military program for medical school,” she said. “After medical school, I will become a medic in the army until I switch to emergency medicine at a general hospital.”
But just because she’s heading to college doesn’t mean her athletic career is over.
“UF has an extremely well-respected flag club that I am looking forward to trying out for. They’ve won multiple national championships in recent years and I hope that streak will continue.”
Hammerschmidt cites her family as one of the reasons for her success in athletics and in the classroom. It helps that older sister, 2024 OPRF graduate Aria, played softball, and she’s someone who serves as a role model for Leia.
“Because of our close age, I have always looked up to my sister as a softball player, a student, and a person in general. My sister created a legacy at OPRF that I was lucky enough to follow and build onto,” she said of Aria, who plays club softball at the University of Wisconsin. “Our competitive nature has always driven us to one-up each other in any way we can, even on the softball field.
“I think I have been able to succeed as an athlete and student at OPRF because of the huge support system I have around me, and the drive I have within myself,” she added. “My parents have also taken such an active role in my athletic and academic careers. They check my grades weekly and offer help any time I need it. They also work in very prestigious jobs themselves, which sets a great example for me and my sister academically.”