Small hits it big
Persistence and hard work has paid off big time for Madison Small.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Governor Simcoe has accepted a scholarship to play soccer and study nursing at West Virginia Wesleyan College beginning this fall.
“It doesn’t seem real, but I’ve finally achieved my goal,” Small said. “I’ve been wanting to play in the States with a university since Grade 9. It’s been my main goal.
“When I was accepted, it was a complete relief off my shoulders. It felt so good.”
Small was recruited by several other schools, but loved the feel at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a small private Division II institution.
“I’m really excited. I was nervous at first when I was deciding but as soon as I met the team and talked to the coach — he told me to call him anytime — that really made me feel welcome and it felt like a family there,” she said. “It wasn’t like I was leaving a family, I was going to another one.
“I knew I had families in both countries.”
Small went to the school for four visits, where she quickly became friends with Niagara Falls native and Saint Paul graduate Hannah Hoadley.
“They made me feel welcome,” she said. “It feels good to have another Canadian there.”
Small said her hard work in school paid dividends — she has a 3.8 GPA (grade point average) and did well on her Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
“In Grade 8, I didn’t try,” she smiled. “I ground it out because grades come before anything.”
Small, who also plays for travel for a U18 team in Grimsby, has spent the last six years training with Clayton Rosario and Tuukka Salonen with Elite Soccer Development.
“It helped so much,” said Small, who is normally used as a striker or on the wing. “I would do it sometimes three days a week. He got me to be strong on my left and my right. I used to have no left foot but now I have one. “
Small also feels her time with Elite will help her make the transition to playing at the collegiate level.
“I did play in the States (with Elite) for a couple of years so I feel like I’m going to know the talent and the aggressiveness, but I still feel it’s going to be a step up,” she said. “The girls and going to be faster and more aggressive and have more skill and talent but I do feel I can match up with them very well having that past experience.
“They are very big on having freshmen start. They like to see that because it builds up leaders.”
Small is slated to head to West Virginia in the middle of August.
“We will have three training sessions a day for a week. It’s going to be very painful, but they told me time flies,” she said. The teachers are so involved. They will even move a test if you have a game. They will come watch. It’s completely different from Canada.”
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, you will notice a yellow SUPPORT US button.
We are asking anyone who finds value in our work and is able to financially help us to click on the button and contribute whatever amount you feel is appropriate and can afford. There is no set amount. Any amount is appreciated.
The funds collected will be used to enhance and offset the expenses of running the web site.
