PITSBURG – Franklin Monroe senior, Maddie Stacy has committed to play soccer for the Sterling Lady Warriors located in Sterling, Kansas while continuing her education.
“I am so excited and thankful that God gave me this opportunity to continue my soccer career in college,” said Stacy. “It has always been a dream to play soccer in college and I am so excited that I am able to do that.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Maddie to the Warrior family this fall,” said Sterling College head women’s soccer coach, Morgan Elzinga. “Maddie is an exceptional young lady who will thrive on and off the field at Sterling.”
“She brings a level of energy, has an extremely high work ethic, and has a passion for the game that makes those around her better,” Coach Elzinga added. “More importantly, she is going to bring some great elements to the team with who she is as a person. She’s an all-around student-athlete and I’m extremely excited to coach her and see what she is able to do this fall.”
“Maddie is very coachable, a great kid that comes from a very good family, good background,” said FM soccer coach Danny Diceanu. “She is a good athlete, she is strong on the ball, she has been working out for years playing club soccer and has good skills. She is definitely tough, she’s a strong girl, she’s rock solid.”
Stacy, the daughter of Ben and Heather Stacy plans to pursue a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science with a minor in business.
“I want to become a personal trainer and nutritionist to train athletes to help them reach their goals and success,” Stacy said. “I have a passion for all sports and helping others so it seems like a perfect fit.”
“The exercise science program is great at Sterling,” added Stacy. “There’s a brand new facilities, brand new gym, weight room, and athletic training room. It’s awesome and I’m looking forward to it.”
Sterling College is located more than a 12 hour 806 mile drive west from Darke County but Maddie will have friends and family close by when she arrives.
Stacy’s former club soccer coach and the former pastor of the Covington Christian Church, Nate Paulus now serves as the lead pastor at the Radiant Church located in Wichita, just 73 miles from Sterling and has family just five miles from the campus.
“Coach Elzinga asked my Aunt Lillian Zimmerman who lives there if she knew any soccer players and she said, yes, Maddie Stacy,” she said. “Sterling College Coach Morgan contacted me and asked if I wanted to come check out Sterling College and the soccer team.”
“Coach Morgan started recruiting me and I was … that’s 12 hours away and that’s crazy, I don’t know about that but I ended up going there and checking out the college and the soccer team. It’s a smaller college which is what I wanted because I’m from FM and I love the small high school so I checked it out.”
“I went there and I absolutely loved the team and I loved the college. Everyone is just so nice and I really just fell in love with it. I said I can see myself going there and then before I knew it I said I am going to commit to the soccer team.”
“I have family five miles from the college, cousins, so I thought that was so awesome because I will be so far from home but I still will have family out there, so it’s comforting to know,” added Stacy.
Stacy sees herself being used mostly at midfield and some at the forward position.
“I’m good to play anywhere they need me,” Stacy stated. “I love the coaching staff there and I am so excited.”
“It will be an adjustment for Maddie,” said Coach Diceanu. “It is just a matter of how she will transition from the slower high school game versus the fast paced more physical demanding training sessions and that sort of thing. With her athletic ability and her passion to succeed, I think she will adapt.”
“Her strength is her strength,” Diceanu added. “She is pretty strong-minded and strong willed and that is another good strength. She doesn’t like to get beat – those are good qualities to have.”
Stacy took time to thank all that had a part in her Franklin Monroe soccer career.
“Most importantly I want to give my biggest thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stacy stated. “I am so thankful He gave me the ability to play the game of soccer and I give Him all the Glory – I am so thankful.”
“I want to thank my whole family especially my parents and my siblings (Lily, Micah, Natalie and Sam) for everything they have done for me and all their support. I want to thank my whole FM family. It’s been a blessing to be a part of the Franklin Monroe community and I’m thankful for my four years of high school at FM, they will always be family to me.”
“All my friends for supporting me. Thank you to Danny Diceanu my coach. I would not be where I am today without him. I thank him for everything he has done for me and helping me become the best I could be on the field and off the field. He is the best coach I ever had.”
“A huge thank you to my teammates. I got to play alongside the most amazing teammates and I will miss them,” added Stacy. “I also want to thank BJ Paulus at Snap Fitness for all the years he’s trained me and has helped me become a better athlete.”
