Maddie Grimsley '25 Recruiting Profile

I have strived to excel in all aspects of my life, which up to this point includes academics, sports, family, friends and community. I have done well so far but look forward to further challenging myself in these areas through my experiences in college. I maintain a 4.14 grade point average and received Highest Honors since 6th grade. 

My soccer career began in the local community club where I learned to love the game playing with friends. I still volunteer with the club with soccer camps and Special Olympic events. I was able to expand on my love and understanding of the game through the PA West and Region I ODP programs where I was fortunate to work with college coaches to hone my skills and understanding of the game. I played for the Beadling and Hot Spurs club programs including play in the GLA, GLC and E64 leagues where I found competition levels conducive to personal improvement and development. Through it all, I found myself drawn to the puzzle solving aspects of the game -  anticipating the play as it develops, setting the pace of the team through possession as well as quick counter strikes as needed. I played predominantly as an attacking midfielder, where I enjoyed making my teammates better as much as scoring myself. 

As my high school freshman season approached, I set goals of making the varsity team and earning a starting position. I was able to achieve both, although not in my normal position, as I was asked to play the seven. This involved learning the intricacies of a new position at a high level. I felt confident to be able to do that but unfortunately I lost a large portion of my freshman playing season to a concussion injury. During the team's playoff run I was cleared to return and inserted into the nine position to end the season. Experiencing the highs and lows of this season taught me quite a bit about myself as a player and person. I gained an appreciation that sports can offer a short window in which to push yourself to achieve your highest potential. That open window can show you new challenges that you might not expect and the window can close earlier than you might want. Because of this I learned to make the most out of every opportunity I am given despite the challenges presented. 

I took this appreciation into my club season play. I asked my club coach to play both midfield and forward positions so that I could work to develop my skills at multiple positions to help my high school and club teams. My club coach was not only open to the idea but encouraged me to do so for the betterment of myself and the team. During the 2022 season I was twice named "Player of the Club" at tournaments, including the Indianapolis Women's College Showcase where I played the nine and seven positions. 

As my sophomore year approached I set goals of making the All-Section first team. I was again slotted to play the seven and attacking midfielder, with more time spent as a forward player. I lead the team in both goals and assists my sophomore year, yet was looked over for All-Section and All WIPIAL recognition. My first-year coach recognized my efforts for the team and at the end-of-year banquet named me Varsity Team Most Valuable Player. 

My soccer career is far from over. Through it all I appreciate the chance to prove the kind of player I am and can become. I also appreciate the opportunity to prove, through soccer, the kind of person I am and continue to grow into. Soccer has brought me some of my best friends. I love to support my teammates on and off the field. I love that they look to me and rely upon me to lift the team. I love that I can rely on them to lift me when I need it. I hope that I can find a college team where this wonderful experience continues. Soccer has brought me closer to my family and I will never forget the fun we've had together at tournaments. While I won't have quite the same experiences with my immediate family while in college, I am hoping to have fun with an expanded family of players and coaches. Soccer is most fun when you are sharing the highs and lows with others. Lastly soccer has tied me to my community. I am proud of my local youth soccer club and all of the accomplishments me and my teammates earned while there. I pay back my club by volunteering. Last summer I helped with a girls soccer camp at the club run by Julia Simic who is a coach for the German National U18 team brought in to run the camp. She asked me and two other girls to come work with the West Hamm United women's club this coming summer which I hope to take advantage of. I am proud of the community ties my high school team enjoys. We have a strong program built by the many players and coaches before me. I take pride in growing the program's success for our community and expect to win a WIPIAL championship in section 4 (the highest level of play) before my graduation. I would like to find a college program that evokes pride from the community and one that provides opportunities to invest myself in the community to help others.

 I think you will find me to be a very hard worker on and off the field, whether during practice or in the heat of the game. I am a team player who likes to share the ball and make the players around me better. I enjoy being recognized for what I do but in the end I am driven by my love for the game and everything it has brought me. I am hopeful it will continue to enrich me through my college career.