Madison Bogden, volleyball
Madison Bogden plays volleyball, softball and basketball and maintains a 3.75 grade-point average as a senior at Mapletown.
If she follows through with her career plan, she will trump all of the above.
Bogden hopes to become a pediatric oncologist.
“I see that so many kids have cancer,” Bogden said. “There isn’t much I can do about it right now, but I hope to be able to help a lot of kids. Instead of sitting back and feeling really bad, I want to be able to help them myself. It’s more about helping them than the money.”
If Bogden can make her dream come true, she vows not be a country club doctor. That’s why she referenced the financial aspect of the medical profession.
“Everybody thinks about doctors making lots of money,” Bogden said. “But if you are going into medicine just for the money, you are doing it for the wrong reason.”
For all she does and hopes to do, Bogden is Mapletown’s fall sports female selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program. The daughter of Brian and Lisa Bogden of Mt. Morris, Bogden has a younger brother, Brian, who is a sophomore baseball player at Mapletown.
“I am a middle hitter on the volleyball team,” Bogden said. “Spiking the ball is the most fun part of being a middle hitter, but there is a lot more to the position than just hitting the ball. Defense is key, too. You have to be on your toes and be ready to block the ball, too, because that helps out a lot. When the outside hitter is hitting, the middle has to pinch and protect, in case she hits into a block. There is a lot of work to it. Plus, before you get a good kill shot, there has to be a good pass and a good set, so we are really dependent on teammates.”
Bogden is quite a typical small school girl and loves it. Aside from playing sports in all three seasons, she is also a cheerleader for various Maples teams.
“Everybody knows everybody here,” she said. “I have so many friends. I think in a bigger school, it would be harder to get to know as many kids. I like being in a small school. I want to get to know everybody and be friends.
“I definitely don’t get as much sleep as I should. I’m up doing homework a lot. I’m constantly here, I barely leave the school. Most days, I go straight to volleyball practice, then I go straight to cheer practice. We cheer for football, wrestling and boys and girls basketball. Sometimes, we have doubleheaders in basketball and right after I’m done playing I have to change clothes and go cheer for the boys team.”
Pediatric oncology is her passion of the future, but for now, she enjoys volleyball the best among the sports she plays.
“Volleyball is definitely my favorite sport,” Bogden said. “I started playing in seventh grade and I realized I really love the sport and I try to better myself at it. My coaches have really had a big influence on me as an athlete. Mrs. Sears was my old volleyball coach and she helped me a lot. Mrs. Menear is my new volleyball coach this year and she is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
As a senior, Bogden realizes that her future holds a lot of promise.
“I am going to college to study pre-med, then continue on to medical school to become a pediatric oncologist,” she said. “My hope is to go to West Virginia University, but I’m open to anywhere. I would consider a smaller school if I could play volleyball or softball there.”