Maddison Wendland '21 Recruiting Profile

I became interested in volleyball at a very young age as I grew up with an older sister who started playing the game in 4th grade.  I have had to overcome lots of obstacles in life and on the court which has defined who I am today as a player and a student.  On the court and in the gym, I have witnessed my older sister, who is diabetic, be challenged and go through many trials. I was given a chance of playing varsity as a Freshman over a senior which resulted in very negative actions towards myself from older players, and I also was not chosen for a spot on a Junior Olympic elite team I truly thought my skills were good enough to make.  Outside of the gym, I have had to deal with losing everything my family had in a house fire, helping my brother after he was in a car accident and fractured his spine in three spots, and watched my dad sell his dairy cows due to the bad farm economy.  All these things have taught me so much about perseverance and to never give up.  I know things may not go as planned or as I would like, but I always work hard on the things I know I can truly control myself.  I have come to appreciate the game so much and truly grateful for whatever role the coach feels I should play to help my team be successful.

My main academic goal for high school is to graduate as valedictorian of my class. I currently have a 4.0 GPA and ranked first in my class. My current academic goal for college is to attend a school with a pre-dental program that will help prepare me to be successful in passing the exams to get into dental school.  I am truly looking for a coach and team that will continue to push me both on and off the court. I take great pride in viewing myself as a fast learner. I always try to take the feedback given by my coaches and apply right away to that next play. I have also learned that even if you are not a starter everyone on the team can make a big impact on the program.  I truly desire to be part of a team that is positive, but yet where everyone strives to be better the next time they step on the court be it in practice or in a game.