Maddie Holmberg, Hempfield Area: High School Sports Unsung Hero

A little over one year ago, Maddie became the first female from the WPIAL to long jump 20 feet and her jump of 20-1 was seventh best in the country. She won individual WPIAL and state titles in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles, and was part of the Spartans’ 400 relay team that won the state title with a time of 47.04 second, tops in WPIAL history.

This past fall, however, suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during a volleyball match in September. She underwent knee surgery October 6, however, and amazingly returned to track practice in late March and was sprinting by the middle of April.

Her return to competition this spring inspired her Hempfield teammates—not to mention her coaches and the training staff—as she came back to run in the 100-meter dash and 400-meter relay. The Spartans won their fourth consecutive team title this spring.

As impressive as her accomplishments as an athlete are, “her character is twice that,” according to athletic director Greg Meisner. Maddie has backed that up academically, as she graduated last month with 98 percent achievement in the classroom.

She will continue her college career at Penn State, where she will compete in the heptathlon, which includes the 100 hurdles, 200, 800, long jump, high jump, shot put and javelin.

CoGo’s is proud to honor Maddie as the June 2015 High School Sports Unsung Hero.