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Name: Maddie Morgan 
School: Sandpoint High School 
Grade: Senior
Sport: Basketball, Track 
Position: Shooting Guard 

How did you first get interested in your sport?

As soon as I was old enough, my mom made sure that I participated in as many sports as possible. She felt that when I was young, it would be a good idea to try all kinds of sports so I could get a feel for which ones I was actually interested in. It wasn’t until sixth grade when my gym teacher forced me to try out for basketball that I became interested in the sport. After that, I decided basketball is the sport I wanted to put my focus on and the rest is history.

If you play other sports, which is your favorite and why?

Along with basketball, I have always done track. I have never been able to choose which one is my favorite. Usually, whichever season I am competing in, that’ll be my favorite. But once the season is over and I go onto the next, it always switches. Basketball is very team-oriented, whereas track is for the most part individual, so it’s nice to be able to experience both environments to switch it up.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from high school sports?

One of my favorite quotes is “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” That quote exemplifies what I have learned through sports. When you do absolutely everything to prepare for a goal you want to achieve, it will work out. It might not come in the way you expected, but things always seem to work out when you have a relentless work ethic and the belief that you are worthy of success. At the end of the day, it’s up to you on how much work you decide to put in. That is between you and nobody else. And when you are given the opportunity and you succeed, people will call it “lucky,” but you created it for yourself.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

The greatest advice I have received was from my mom. She told me that it is great to have my name in the paper, win awards, all those accolades. But what truly matters is who you are as a person and the way you treat people on and off the court. None of it matters if you are not a good person.

What has been your favorite high school memory so far?

My favorite high school memory was with my jump coach Dave DeMers at the Timberlake Invitational my sophomore year. After I had gotten done with my jumps for the day, we sat on a ledge and watched the meet together. Eating hamburgers, spitting sunflower seeds and talking about life.

 What coaches or teachers have made the biggest impact on your athletic career?

I have been blessed to have created such strong bonds with my Spanish teacher Mary Imaz and my track coaches Tom Keener, Dave DeMers and Matt and Angie Brass. I have taken just about every class that I could possibly get with Mary Imaz during my high school years. She is the true embodiment of a teacher who genuinely cares and loves her students whole-heartedly. She has been someone I can always talk to no matter what, and sees me for who I am. Without her, I would not have been able to get through all the ups and downs of sports. Tom Keener, my sprint coach, has been phenomenal with critiquing my running form to make me a faster sprinter and overall athlete. Not only that, he has been a fantastic mentor and someone I can contact if I ever need anything. Dave DeMers, my jump coach, is the most impactful person I have ever met. The connection we have with each other is like no other. He is the definition of what a dependable coach, friend, father, husband, and mentor should look like. Matt and Angie Brass have been huge impacts on my athletic career, and have shaped me into the person I am today. They truly understand that there is so much more to sports. I will never be able to repay them for what they have done for me throughout high school. I know that I will have solid relationships with them for the rest of my life, and that they will always love and support me.

Which teammates have you really connected with during high school?

Hattie Larson is an incredible athlete, but an even better person. I have been blessed to compete with her on the basketball court all throughout high school. We have connected very well because we both understand that work ethic and resiliency you must have in sports. She has been an amazing teammate and friend to me. I have loved competing with her because she is such a versatile athlete, and can do anything she puts her mind to.

Is there anyone in your family who have helped you get to where you are today?

My three sisters and mother have helped me get to where I am today. They are the ones who have to put up with me after rough games. They are the ones who have traveled to all my tournaments and games. They are the ones who have believed in me at my worst and cheered for me at my best. They have helped me more than they will ever know. Without them, I would not be where I am today.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

A lot of people see me as this tough jock who is kind of sealed off from others, but I am the most emotional in my family. I cry watching corny Disney movies, or even the littlest things!

What would you like to say to all the other Idaho athletes who had their season cut short?

 This has definitely been an extremely devastating and tough time for all of us. We will always have that missing piece to our senior year, but just know there are many amazing experiences and opportunities ahead of us as we move on to the next chapter in our lives. That void of never having a final season our senior year may never go away, but it can allow us to realize how grateful we are for what we once had.