WATERLOO, Wis. — Three-sport athlete Maddelyn Webster said she embraces physical activity to help balance her busy schedule.
“Being at practice is a release, almost. It’s a way to let my mind go for a bit and not think about school if it’s stressful," said Webster.
That positive outlook has made an impact on her team as well. Her cross country teammates voted her team captain for the past two seasons.
“She was exceptional. The girls all looked up to her. She always came with a smile and was there ready to run in practice," said Todd Forman, Waterloo's assistant cross country coach.
Webster also ran and threw the discus for the track team and was captain of the basketball team.
“I just really like leading the team. I’m always trying to motivate everyone to do their best during practice or a game," said Webster.
Her leadership and teamwork abilities have been on display in the classroom as well.
“She’s inquisitive and doesn’t let it go if she doesn’t understand something. She makes sure she understands all the details of problems and will keep asking questions or ask for extra practice until she does have a good grasp," said Shelly Scharenbrock, a math teacher at Waterloo High School.
Webster's teachers said she is not afraid to show her classmates that sometimes, even she didn't have the answer.
“When we encounter a situation like that, where we don’t know something, we need to seek out the answers. It’s that investigative thinking that is going to help propel her forward," said Emily Schimelfenyg, an English teacher at Waterloo High School.
Webster said she would have a perfect GPA if it weren’t for one B she received in AP chemistry. But instead of letting it get her down, she said she looks on the bright side.
“It was very challenging, and I had to let that one go. I worked hard for that B. That's what is important, rather than the A," said Webster.
The high school senior has volunteered for numerous organizations. In fact, Webster said she found inspiration for her career path volunteering at a hospital.
Next year, Webster will attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to study nursing. She’ll minor in Spanish, and currently mentors a kindergarten ESL student, who she said has come a long way this year.
“Being able to go in there and hear her speak some English now from the start of the year is just incredible," said Webster.
Webster's inquisitive mind and strong work ethic brought her success in high school. She'll likely look for more questions to ask and more people to lead next year in college.