In her fourth and final year in the Kamiak volleyball program, Maddy Young has shined on and off the court. The senior captain has been a great role model for her teammates – as well as everybody at Kamiak High School – according to Knights’ head coach Natalie Bowie.
“Maddy is priceless. She’s irreplaceable,” Bowie said. “She is the perfect example of a girl that I would point at and say, ‘Be like her.’ It’s on the court with her communication, determination and heart. But it’s also off the court as a young lady. She has integrity. She has character she has compassion. She’s very selfless. She puts others’ needs above herself.”
Bowie said Young’s attributes made her an “extremely easy choice for a captain.” Herald Writer David Krueger talked with Young as she reflected on her volleyball career, American history and life after Kamiak High School.
Q: How’s your senior volleyball season going?
A: So far, it’s been going pretty amazing. It’s just bittersweet in a way, because it is my last time in this gym with my team. I’ve been a part of the program for four years and it’s really sad to know it’s my last season.
Q: What’s it like knowing it’s the last time everything will happen? The last games against teams like Edmonds-Woodway and Mariner?
A: It’s just weird. I don’t know. We’ve grown up with all these teams, whether we were playing soccer when we were little or even just in high school we’ve always played each other. Playing their seniors too is just weird because we’ve always played each other and been competitive.
Q: What’s the key to having a good season on the court?
A: Team connection. We’ve kind of struggled – well not really struggled, we’ve had rough patches. So finding that team bonding-time is really key. It is the connection that’s really important to a team.
Q: What are your duties as team captain?
A: My duties as a captain just include making sure no one’s arguing and everyone’s getting along, everyone’s keeping a positive attitude and just making sure there is no issue on the team.
Q: Do you know who decided to call it a “kill?”
A: (Laughs.) I have no idea where “kill” came from. I’ve heard “hit.” I’ve heard “kill.” I’ve heard so many names for that. I really am not sure where that came from.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment on the volleyball court?
A: My sophomore year I was pulled up from JV to go to state and districts with that year’s varsity team and I remember just going to state and going to Lacey with the Kamiak volleyball team and just stepping in the gym. Just being there at state was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Q: Do you go hang out at other Kamiak sporting events?
A: Yes. We have a football game tonight (last Friday against Mariner) and I really love going to the football games. And really all the sporting games. Basketball in the winter, going out and seeing soccer in the spring. We also have a really good fine arts program here at Kamiak so we’re really involved in going to all the performing arts’ concerts and plays.
Q: Do you do any clubs or other activities at Kamiak when you’re not playing volleyball?
A: I am in leadership this year and I’m also in a club called “Link” which is kind of freshmen-oriented, so we help the freshman. I’m in National Honor Society and yeah, I try to get involved in the school when I’m not playing volleyball.
Q: Do you have a favorite class in school?
A: You know, actually I really like history. History’s probably my favorite subject. I just like how straightforward it is. And I also really love my leadership class. It’s really fun.
Q: Yeah I guess the dates for World War II have never changed.
A: Yeah! It’s never going to change. I’m really good at memorizing, so just having facts come at me – and not having to solve a problem – just having straightforward, set in stone things to know is really helpful to me learning.
Q: What are your plans for after high school?
A: I’m not quite sure what college yet, but I definitely want to go into education. I’ve always wanted to be an elementary school teacher so I know that’s my career choice, I’m just deciding what school I want to go to.
Q: So there’s a chance you could get a degree and then come back and teach down the road from Kamiak?
A: Yeah! It could happen! We’ll see.
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