By Dan Ninham
The Bemidji HS varsity girls’ soccer team’s 2025 season is over. For senior team members there are lifelong memories that were made not only during their final season. Memories were also made from many years of preparation to be a part of a successful varsity high school soccer program.
In a traditional introduction of oneself to others: “My name is Miikawaadizi Novak, Miika for short. Miikawaadizi means “to be beautiful” in the Ojibwe language. My we’eh named me Niigaanibik, which translates to “the one who leads.” I am an enrolled member of Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and a descendant of two other tribes. I am from the Bear clan. My Grandpa Eugene Novak was from the Oneida tribe in Wisconsin and my Grandma Jonie Johnson was Akimel O’odham from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.”
Miika is a senior at Bemidji High School in Bemidji, Minnesota. Her primary sports and activities included soccer, hockey, modeling, and pageantry.
“I have been playing varsity soccer since I was a sophomore. I’ve played soccer since I was (about) four years old, starting with rec soccer at Bemidji Youth Soccer. Since then, a soccer ball has been practically glued to my feet,” added Miika.
“When I was 10, I started playing hockey during the winter. While soccer has my heart, I play hockey for fun. I started playing later than most players and had a lot to learn but I kept with it. I even played on a boys’ team when I was 12,” added Miika.
Miika’s path followed in the translation of her Ojibwe name. She had an extensive background in modeling and pageantry.
“In a completely different direction, I have enjoyed modeling for Indigenous photographers and Indigenous brands,” said Miika. “I have gotten opportunities to model in fashion shows for Red Berry Woman, Devontey’s Designs, RedWing Collections, Choke Cherry Creek and more. Fashion modeling has taken me to Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and more.”
Training at a high level at a young age has prepared her to compete at the big school level in Minnesota high school soccer.
“In 2023 (we) won our conference championship,” said Miika. “Same for the 2024 season and this season too in 2025. I’ve scored multiple goals for the high school team. Unfortunately I did not score my senior season, but I did have assists for a lot of points and received recognition for my assists and corner kicks.”
Club soccer was played from November to July. The commitment to improve as a varsity player meant traveling long distance for practice and competition.
“This year, I got the amazing opportunity to play for Zolos FC MN,” said Miika. “We practiced in Alexandria, MN and Brainerd, MN. Girls from all over northern Minnesota were on my team: Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Grand Rapids, Pequot Lakes, and me from Bemidji,” added Miika.
Many athletes have their favorite memories within their sport that encouraged them to strive to be better.
“One of my favorite memories of playing soccer was this past summer, the last tournament we went to,” said Miika. “All the practices led up to our final tournament, the Target USA Cup. The Target USA Cup is where we had to show up and play our hearts out. It was many of my teammates’ last games as a soccer player.”
“We made it to the semifinals. We played Ireland in our very first game. We lost to Ireland. But we ended up seeing Ireland again in the semifinals. We played one of our best games. It was 0-0 for what felt like forever. I all of the sudden got a breakaway and took a shot at the net. The goalie tipped it out with her fingers which led to a corner kick. I took the corner kick, a beautiful floater right into the feet of Sydney Kalina and she scored! It was one of the best moments ever,” added Miika.
“But we ended up losing and that’s okay, it was one of the most memorable soccer memories from the tournament,” said Miika.
As soccer season was ending, and hockey was starting, Miika also has plans for post-high school.
“My plans for after high school is that I will attend college and major in environmental and outdoor sciences and minor in deaf studies,” said Miika. “I chose environmental studies because of my grandfather who inspired me into picking it. I plan to minor in deaf studies. I took my first ASL class during my sophomore year and it inspired me to be an interpreter.”
“While I was in Montana for modeling my mom and I had stopped at the local Walmart to get some snacks and a deaf employee greeted us. I noticed that he was doing some hand movements while he spoke and I picked up he was signing. I signed back to him and told him my name in sign language. He had told me that I made his day and he was so happy that he was able to speak with someone. That memory will forever stick with me,” added Miika.
