by Dennis Dalman
It has been seven months since the death of 14-year-old Sophie Wieland of Sartell, but warm memories of her live on in the hearts and minds of so many people who knew and loved her.
One of those people is 15-year-old Lexi Polinder of St. Augusta, who played soccer with Sophie. On Feb. 12 at Second Street Coffeehouse in Sartell, Lexi sold more than 75 homemade bracelets in honor of Sophie, raising $350.
“The people who bought them were so generous!” Lexi exclaimed.
She donated the $350 to “Sophie’s Squad,” an organization to raise awareness about mental-health issues. It was founded shortly after Sophie’s death by Terry Hughes, a coach for the Twin Cities-based “Skate to Excellence” program, of which Sophie was a member.
Last year, on July 12, Sophie took her own life, a terrible loss that devastated all who knew her. Even her parents did not know she had been struggling with mental-health issues. Sophie, a student at Sartell Middle School, was always upbeat, outgoing and kind, always reaching out to help others.
“I had trouble making friends,” Lexi said. “It’s a kind of social anxiety I have, and when playing soccer Sophie always helped me feel comfortable to reach out to others and to make friends. Sophie was one of my closest friends.”
Lexi, a student at Kimball High School, is the daughter of Samantha and Jason Polinder. She enjoys soccer, art and “lots of reading.”
The daughter of Henry and Aimee Wieland, Sophie achieved perfect grades. She loved to play hockey, soccer and competed in cross-country. She played the violin, and she also excelled in extracurricular pursuits, including student council, Academic Triathlon, Knowledge Bowl and the school district’s Equity Club. Her goal was to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and become an aerospace engineer.
At the time of her death, Sophie left a goodbye letter in which she wrote she had been struggling with inner turmoil for three years.
Her mother, Aimee, said this: “Nobody had a clue and nobody had any idea (about Sophie’s inner struggles). . . She was such a happy, kind, generous soul. . . If she just knew a fraction of the love that people had for her . . . I just wish she knew that.”
Mental-health professionals have said the suicide rate has increased in recent years, especially among adolescent girls. Experts believe pressures during the Covid pandemic may contribute to the stresses children feel: being isolated, turning to social media messages about “perfection” in looks and behavior, and trying to balance schoolwork, sports participation and so many other responsibilities and duties.”
To learn more about “Sophie’s Squad” and how to contribute to its efforts for mental health and suicide prevention, visit its website at https://sophiessquad.org.
Lexi Polinder, 15, of St. Augusta, adds up the money raised for Sophie’s Squad Feb. 12 at Second Street Coffeehouse in Sartell.
Addison Kelsey, 7, of Sartell, (right) wears a Sophie’s Squad T-shirt as she recommends a Smore’s Truffle coffee drink to Lexi Polinder, 15, of St. Augusta. The entire Second Street Coffeehouse team wore Sophie’s Squad T-shirts Feb. 12 for suicide awareness and prevention.
Dayna Deters, of Sartell, (right) purchases bracelets from Lexi Polinder, 15, of St. Augusta.
