Logan Langemeier is the latest shining example of hard work and dedication paying off for an athlete at South Tahoe High School.

The senior works hard on the gridiron. He works hard on the slopes, the weight room and especially the classroom.

Langemeier has never missed a practice or workout that Vikings head football coach Louis Franklin can remember.

Langemeier looked around South Tahoe’s strength and conditioning room Wednesday, Feb. 7, and recalled the time, pain and sweat he’s spent there over the past couple of years.

It has paid off.

Langemeier signed his National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day surrounded by Franklin, his mother, Loral, and 11-year-old sister Tristin. He will play football on scholarship for Jacksonville University, a division I private college in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I’m excited and super grateful for this opportunity,” Langemeier said. “Coming in here as a freshman and them telling me I’m going to go D1 … So after years of working out and grinding and pushing through all the pain with some injuries, it’s a relief it’s finally over. The process is super long. It’s more labor intensive than anybody can probably think.”

His scholarship is worth $22,500 per year and is renewable every year with at least a 2.5-grade-point average. The award covers most of his cost.

Langemeier became the latest South Tahoe athlete to sign with a division I college, joining McCallan Castles, who signed in December to play football for Cal.

“Hard work and perseverance pays off again,” Franklin said. “I think it’s good for the community to see kids with a great work ethic that can make college football a reality, and division I college football at that. To have two kids sign from a small community, that means we know the formula and what we’re doing and it would be great to keep this going. Getting kids to four-year colleges and graduate with degrees, it makes us a stronger community.

“And for me selfishly, I’m excited he’s going there because he’s going to play for my old college offensive coordinator. The program there, five years from now when he graduates with his MBA, I mean, that’s the big picture. That’s life. And football was the avenue to make that happen. That’s cool.”

Langemeier stepped onto campus four years ago standing about 5-foot-10 and weighing around 170 pounds. The offensive lineman now is a lot bigger, and more decorated. He’ll leave the school as a 2017 Academic All-American and an All-Northern League offensive lineman. He also is one of the top skiers on South Tahoe’s alpine team. He’s listed at 6-4, 240 pounds on Jacksonville’s list of recruits for the class of 2022.

Langemeier credits his coaches and the weight room for much of his growth.

“The coaching staff we have is great, and the weight room is awesome,” Langemeier said. “I think this is one of the big keys to success, getting me strong and get that power and weight I need. I’m thankful that they all helped me get here and now it’s on to the next level and a new family and new coaching staff.”

That new coaching staff is about 41 driving hours and 2,700 miles away. It’s across the country, and definitely nowhere near skiing, other than on water.

He’s a little anxious to be so far away, but thinks his new football family will help him work through any tough times.

“I’m a little nervous but I’m excited to leave Tahoe and go do something new,” Langemeier said. “I think Christmas break will be when I’ll be able to ski again. And that’s OK, I’ll do a little surfing.”

Langemeier had other offers, including his second choice Southern Oregon. He said he was offered preferred walk-on spots at UC Davis and Idaho State. But he really liked what Jacksonville had to offer, athletic and academically, during his recent visit.

“I met with the coaches, met with the team and we talked with professors and that’s when I decided I knew where I was going,” said Langemeier, who intends to major in business finance. “It was for sure a wild ride. It’s exciting but it’s a relief to commit and be stoked about where I am going to go.”