If you ask Madison DeLeon about her performance on the field, she tends to spend more time talking about her team rather than herself.
DeLeon scored four goals for the Clarke field hockey team in a 7-4 victory over North Shore on Monday, earning Newsday Athlete of the Week honors.
"I was feeling the pressure that day, but my main goal was to show up for my team and just help bring everyone up," said the forward, who entered the week with nine goals and 10 assists in her three years on varsity. "It's always a team aspect. I was taking risks, and once I got one, the motivation was just there from everyone."
With Clarke trailing 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, DeLeon scored four consecutive goals and helped give her team a 5-2 lead at the half. Rams coach Brittany Dougher was impressed with DeLeon’s resilience.
“Showing up and scoring four back-to-back goals was impressive," Dougher said. "To see her execute like that in a game where we were down was awesome."
DeLeon, a multi-sport athlete, also runs track in the winter and plays lacrosse in the spring. Her athleticism is on full display no matter if she’s holding a lacrosse or field hockey stick, or sprinting past her competition.
“This is why she stands out; her physique and athleticism show when she plays other sports," Dougher said of DeLeon, who has started every field hockey game since her freshman year. "She is a role model by how she acts and the effort she puts into the program."
It wasn’t until seventh grade when DeLeon began playing field hockey. At the time, she was a gymnast, but her love for the sport grew when she became the captain of her middle school team.
"I've always loved contact sports," DeLeon said. "I also love being on the field with other people who share similar interests and who want to win."
In addition to her performances on the field and on the track, DeLeon has a passion for helping others.
She is a part of Clarke's mentorship program, Athletes Helping Athletes, where student-athletes mentor younger kids and teach them life lessons while discussing social issues. DeLeon and other AHA members attend workshops at Adelphi three times a year, where they meet with local sixth graders.
“I think it is amazing, especially with the younger generation,” DeLeon said. “It's inspiring how much they look up to us and how much they want to hear from us. It makes our self-esteem go up, and makes everyone feel better about themselves."
DeLeon has the same goals for the rest of the season as she does everyday: Grow as a person, and bond with her coach and teammates along the way.
"My personal goal is to have a stronger season than the previous one," DeLeon said. "My team goal is for everyone to feel confident enough to perform to their full potential. And I know these goals can be achieved under the guidance of coach Dougher and [assistant] coach [Lily] Fox."
