As of the current 2024-2025 school year, many seniors have accepted offers from many different colleges across the country. One of Shadow Ridge High School’s star-athletes, Diego Madrid, has committed to Mayville State University.
Madrid has been playing football consistently for many years. He has played for the Ridge since he was a freshman. Madrid grew up sticking with this sport as the people around him were submerged in football as well.
“I have been playing football since I was six years old. My dad and brothers got me into the sport. They all played football and I always wanted to be like them, growing up. I started playing for the Shadow team because I had heard there were good coaches that would help get me recruited to play at the next level, also because of my friends,” mentions Madrid.
Madrid chose Mayville State University because it will bring new opportunities to his future, as well as give him the chance to play with a few of his previous teammates. However, going off to university is very hard for many students, as they have to leave behind their friends, families, and homes.
Madrid states, “I chose Mayville college because it allows me to have a free education, and it will let me play a couple more seasons with some of my teammates. It has a lot of great, new opportunities for you and it’s a good way to get out of your comfort zone. I am not looking forward to having to leave all my friends, family, and girlfriend behind at home. It isn’t fun being far from home.”
Many athletes can be impacted by the sports they play even outside of the games and practices. Madrid has learned a lot of things throughout the years he has played, that he puts to use outside of football.
“Football has made me a better person by having confidence in myself in anything I do. It also made me even better because it helped me learn time management, and by showing me how to manage and balance being an athlete, having a busy schedule, and my home life,” comments Madrid.
Madrid has earned his place in the sport he plays as well as gaining a few supporters along the way. Lots of athletes have specific coaches or people in their inner circle who have become their biggest supporters throughout their sport, whether it is because they coached amazing or because they impacted the player in an emotional or mental way.
“I have had a lot of big supporters but one of my biggest, I would say would have to be Coach Steve Cox. He has been coaching me since I was 11 and has always pushed me and supported me throughout my youth and high school careers,” comments Madrid.
As Coach Cox has had the experience of coaching and getting to know Madrid off the field as well, he is grateful to see this senior earn what he worked for. He is proud of everything Madrid has accomplished from when he began coaching him, all the way to the very end.
“Diego has improved over the years by becoming a student of the game and understanding how to read and react to different situations. Watching Diego mature and develop from the age of 10 and dealing with adversity that he has dealt with is a huge part of why I am proud of him, I am sure he will succeed in his future,” mentions Coach Cox.
