A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
Written by Randy Tucker
Maddie Wildcat will continue her distance running career at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. The Riverton senior signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in cross country and track and field for the NAIA Fighting Indians.
Wildcat is a legacy; her mother, Jenni, and father, Jacob, are both graduates of the Lawrence, Kansas University.
“I looked at other schools academically, but athletics-wise, I was set on Haskell,” Wildcat said.
“My family was sure of it,” Wildcat joked, “My family is sure of it, because both of my parents graduated from there.”
Wildcat has high academic and professional goals.
“I’m going to major in kinesiology, eventually to become a sports physician,” Wildcat said. “It’s a pre-med degree.”
She has competed in cross country for Riverton High School all four years and plays soccer in the spring. The transition from soccer to track and field should be easy, given her experience on the 5K course in cross country.
“Because of my high interest and overall love of sports, I wanted to stay in it,” Wildcat said. “Being able to help athletes with their injuries pushed me that way.”
She played basketball, then switched to indoor track.
She carries a strong GPA average.
Haskell is a unique institution. They don’t offer scholarships, but keep their tuition rates low to make it more accessible for Native American students.
Wildcat thanked her family for their support and singled out her coaches.
“Tann Gopp was my cross country and indoor track coach,” Wildcat said. “Charlie Oldman has been there really since the beginning of my running career. He’s the one that helped me get into contact with the Haskell coach.”