Meet Madison McKinley

Name: Madison McKinley

School: Shrewsbury High School

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

How long have you been playing soccer: Since I was five-years old.

Who got your started playing the sport: My parents. My dad was my coach when I was little and has been my coach forever.  

What other sports do you play: Club soccer. I play soccer all year long.

When not on the field what do you like to do: Hang out with friends, play on the computer.

What are your future plans after high school: Plan to attend Endicott University and continue my soccer career.

Look up the word leader in the dictionary and you might see a picture of Shrewsbury senior Madison McKinley.

McKinley and her Colonial soccer teammates are on a roll and as a tri-captain, McKinley is doing her best to try and carry the torch.

“She’s really composed with the ball in front of the net and is a very accurate shooter. She has great foot skills and is a very positive leader on this team,” said Shrewsbury High School Head Coach Chip DelPrete. “She never gets into a negative mood and is always happy and energetic. The younger players really look up to her.”

According to DelPrete, McKinley blew out her ACL and spent all of her sophomore season trying to come back from such a devastating injury. Last year, as a junior McKinley was back on the field sporting a knee brace and doing her best to reassert herself into the Colonials lineup.

“My favorite part is just being a part of a team, I love that feeling of just being part of a team and part of a big family and working together for a common goal,” McKinley said. “I really enjoy being with my teammates.”

The senior forward says she and her teammates are looking forward to having an opportunity to defend the squad’s Central Mass. Division 1 Title. Last fall the Colonials advanced to the Division 1 state title game before falling to Northern Mass. Champ Central Catholic.

“Our ultimate goal is try and get back to states, but before we can get that far, we need to focus on making the districts. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” said McKinley. “We’re just taking it step by step and game by game right now.”

As a token of appreciation from her teammates the team voted McKinley, along with fellow seniors Kayla Shea and Devinne Zadravec, as the team’s captains.

“It makes me feel really awesome,” said a smiling McKinley. “My teammates voted me and it’s quite an honor to have the opportunity to be a great leader for them. I don’t put myself higher than anyone else on this team. We are all working together each and every day.”