Community Impact: CUP Senior Maddie Myers (08/24/17)

Matt Lerch, of the Clarion River Valley Strikers, has begun a series of articles “that show the positive community impact many Clarion University students have had from our angle.” Matt states, “I feel many times these kids go unnoticed and therefore are not appreciated by the general Clarion populace. Our coaches basically work for nothing but the love of kids and to help hone their skills in their different majors.”

This is Matt’s second installment:

Madison “Maddie” Myers returns to Clarion to coach the U10 Clarion River Valley Strikers (CRVS) to her 5th winning season. CRVS is the premier competitive soccer club in Clarion County.  It is the only soccer club in the county to participate in the highly competitive PA West League. PA West is part of US Youth Soccer, Region One and is associated with US Soccer and FIFA.

(Photo by Matt Lerch)
Maddie Myers

CRVS offers competitive soccer for boys and girls, ages 7 through 18.   The club is focused on the development of players through individual skill, tactical teamwork, and proper sportsmanship.  CRVS has been fortunate to tap the talent from Clarion University with students representing many different majors.

Maddie Meyers is a senior at Clarion University majoring as an Intervention Specialist. She will graduate in December 2017 with her Bachelors in Special Education before continuing at Clarion to receive her Masters in Special Education with a concentration in reading and an autism endorsement. She graduated from Dubois Central Catholic High School where she played soccer, track and was a cheerleader. Along with high school soccer, Maddie played premier club soccer for STN North Penn for 7 years. Continuing her soccer career, she played for the Clarion University’s Women’s soccer team. She hung up her soccer cleats after her sophomore season to focus more on her future teaching career. The Striker soccer family welcomed her during her freshman year of college, where she was able to successfully combine her two passions– teaching kids and the beautiful game of soccer. Maddie’s Strikers records have been Fall 2015 5-3, Spring 2016 6-0-1, Fall 2016 7-0, Spring 2017 6-1.

As a coach, Maddie stresses the importance of individual player development. Focusing on the basics, it is her goal for each player to get 1000 touches on the ball per practice. Most importantly, Maddie helps her players develop a love for the game. Strikers parent, Ed Baumcratz, emphasized “The Strikers organization has been blessed with the arrival of Ms. Meyers, our U10 coach. Maddie brings great soccer knowledge, along with a caring nature. She has sacrificed a great deal by putting our athletes’ best interest first. We’re are very grateful for her dedication to the program.”

Maddie’s favorite inspirational quote is, “hustle and heart will set you apart.”

Thanks to Maddie and many of her fellow CUP students, the Clarion community has added another sport for the local youth to understand, enjoy and advance in the future.  And due to her altruism over many years of coaching and time commitment as a student, Maddie has become not only a great coach and leader to the young Clarion athletes but a mentor as well.

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photo. And Thank you, Maddie!!!!)