by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The pandemic-shortened spring softball season has left many senior athletes without a place to play out their last high school sport. A Northland Community School senior in Remer, MN and member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is making the best of her time at home.
Madison Anne Greene, 17, was born on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation to Kelly Greene and Stacey McKinney. Her clan is Maang (loon) and she was raised in Outing, MN.
“Throughout my high school career, I have played volleyball, basketball, and softball,” said Madison. I have been on our schools Drum and Dance Team since I was in kindergarten.”
“My personal best in volleyball was a game my junior year versus Indus HS,” said Madison. “I had 27 assists, 12 kills, 3 blocks, 9 digs, 7 ace serves and a 90% serve accuracy rating. I’ve been captain of the volleyball team for the last two years. I’ve received All Conference Honorable Mention my junior year, Most Improved my freshman year and MVP my junior year.”
“I’ve always been taught that family is important and valued,” said Madison. “I look up to my grandparents, who always taught me my traditional ways and values. My grandfather has always pushed me to learn about my culture and traditions. I’ve excelled in Ojibwe language.”
“I am a bi-racial young woman, coming from such a diverse family,” said Madison. “I’ve learned to adapt and intermix the traditions and values that both families have taught me. It also made me a strong individual who accepts everyone for who they are and what they’re passionate about.
“I believe that the traditions and teachings that I had growing up has pushed me to become the extraordinary athlete and student I am,” said Madison. “It also has helped mold me into a strong leader on and off the court. My humor, patience, and acceptance helped me earn presidency on our student leadership team for two years, and President on Oghichidaa (Warrior) Club for four years. Those skills also have helped me on and off the court.”
“First and foremost, I want to thank my parents for always finding a way for me to play sports and have the things I needed,” said Madison.
“Being Madison’s older sister I’ve had the opportunity to watch her grow as a volleyball player,” said Alexis Greene. “As a six year old, Madison would beg for me to teach her how to set. After I got home from volleyball practice, we would spend all evening in the front yard setting back and fourth to each other. During my sophomore year and Madison’s sixth grade year, she would always practice with her junior high school team and then tag along to the varsity practices with me. Madison showed great dedication and interest in the sport.”
“After I graduated Madison started playing JO volleyball and she was challenged and excelled as a setter. Volleyball isn’t the only sport Madison excelled in. She was a great softball shortstop and a fast ball-handling point guard. Not only is Madison a leader on the court but also in school,” added Alexis.
“Being a biracial young woman, Madison has been faced with a lot of challenges at school,” said Alexis. “She has stood up for her culture and ethnicity and isn’t scared to put someone in their place when needed. I believe Madison has a great future ahead of her and I am very proud to call her my baby sis.”
“Madison is a great all around player who can play the front and back row equally well,” said Tim Hasse, head volleyball coach at Northland. “Her true strength as a player is as a setter but she can be a great hitter as well. What makes her a joy to coach though is her competitive drive, her love of the game, and her leadership abilities. All in all, she’s just a great kid who loves volleyball and plays it at a high level. What more can a coach ask for?”
“A role model I looked up to and got to play with in all three sports, was Kristine Johnson,” said Madison. “We shared the same position for volleyball as a setter and in basketball as the point guard.”
“I’m a 2017 Northland Remer graduate,” said Kristine Johnson. “I played volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout my time spent at Remer, and that is where I met Maddy Greene. She also played all the sports, granted she was quite younger than me, but I was around her quite a bit. When I look back I can think of so many times and positive things about her as a person and a teammate. Maddy had her strengths but she was able to play any spot in softball and any position in basketball and volleyball. If someone got hurt and we needed to rearrange the lineups, Maddy Greene was our knight in shining armor. I believe the first time I actually played with Maddy was when she was an eighth grader. I was a catcher for the varsity softball team and she started running the bases for me. It was from that point that she always stepped up. She would suit up for varsity basketball games if we were short on numbers, and she would jump in on the volleyball drills. She was always willing to help out the team in any way she could in all the sports she partook in. The year to follow she was a varsity athlete.”
“The ‘older kid’s’ always kind of have these expectations when freshman start playing competitively on varsity and Maddy lived up to every expectation us older girls had, she always stood out. My favorite thing about Maddy is her will to win. She is so competitive and always gives her best. That’s where we had a lot of fun together. She was like my mini-me and always pushed me to my limits,” added Kristine.
“Maddy is a great athlete not only because of her athleticism but also because she is energetic, strong, a fast learner, fearless, persistent, and she is also a goofball,” said Kristine. “She is so much fun to be on the court or field with. I am very proud of the athlete and human being she has become since I have left high school. I watched her become a leader and a role model.”
“What Maddy Greene doesn’t know is that even though she was younger, she was also a role model for me as well. She gave me something to believe in and I trusted having her by my side,” added Kristine.
The holistic model of wellness for athletes and non-athletes is keyed on balancing physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
“I take time to get physical exercise everyday and also time in the weight room and on the court,” said Madison. “I also play in club teams off season, and performance camps.
“I mentally prepare myself and my team before games by pumping them up with music, pep talk, and my humor,” said Madison. “A lot of the times in games, I lack the ability to have self-confidence when we began to lose.”
“I lean on my spiritual awareness to help me through the tension and failures,” said Madison. “I pray before every game and thank the creator for the opportunity to be an athlete.”
“When I am in a difficult situation in the court, I use positive self talk, and lean on the positive energy bouncing off the fan section, coaches, and my teammates,” added Madison.
Madison Greene learned the lessons of leadership in high school and with her family. She will continue on her journey with a sharp focus in mind and action.
Photo Credit: Nedahness Rose Greene
Congrats mady Greene
Wow good job Maddy way to go!