Coupeville Sports

Maddie Vondrak, a (humble) superstar. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Be humble and kind.

In everything I have seen and heard over the past five years, Maddie Vondrak has, quietly and without a lot of chest-thumping, been the very-best of what a prep athlete can be.

On the volleyball court, she has been a thumper and a destroyer, capable of inflicting grave damage when she elevates and sprays spikes in all directions.

From middle school to high school, JV to varsity, Vondrak excelled in displaying her spiker skills.

But there are a lot of people who have a certain amount of ability, a certain amount of being able to get their limbs to work in the athletic spotlight.

Vondrak soars above the crowd for her joy, for the sheer delight she took in every successful play accomplished by both herself and her teammates.

Few Wolves have celebrated with such unabashed glee, soaking up every high point and marinating in the moment.

Arms waving, feet stomping, smile bouncing off one gym wall to the other (even in a time of Covid masks), Vondrak extracted every bit of fun she could from her time as a spiker.

Celebrating her teammates accomplishments with as much glee as her own.

Time will move on, life will take in her other directions, but when she looks back, Maddie will know she gave everything she had.

She embraced everything about her sport, and I hope she always smiles when she reflects on all she and her teammates accomplished.

Vondrak has been part of some very-successful Wolf volleyball squads, and, as she blossomed as a player, the program reached new heights along with her.

But her impact goes far beyond what she did while chasing the bouncing white ball.

Early in her prep career, Vondrak was injured and unable to play in several matches.

Instead of moping around, she seized the moment, volunteering to assist JV coach Chris Smith with his post-game reports to the press.

“And then I told Coach Smith to relax … I got this!”

Her recaps were pure bursts of joy, as Vondrak went out of her way to say something unique and positive about each of her teammates, from the starters to the bench.

It’s rare for coaches to find a way to praise every player — though some certainly try — but even rarer for someone who is still a teen at the time to be able to step outside themselves and fully appreciate the contributions of their fellow athletes.

Vondrak also showed a talent for photography, snapping pics of her classmates as shown in this article:

Maddie Vondrak has her eye (and camera) on you!! | Coupeville Sports

A lot of people fire up cameras at games, but Vondrak has a rare eye, an ability to capture an intimacy with her subjects which doesn’t always come through with other photographers.

Maddie with big sis Peytin. 

Coupeville got lucky when it didn’t lose Maddie midway through her high school days.

Her father’s Naval career took a detour, with a promotion pulling him away from NAS Whidbey and off to California, but his daughter arranged to stay behind and finish with her CHS classmates.

That meant a Senior Night for volleyball and graduation, a chance to complete her journey alongside the other Class of 2021 students she shared classrooms and gym floors with.

Vondrak came in to high school as a Wolf, and she exited as a Wolf, and, no matter where she goes in life, she will always be a Wolf.

Her intelligence and drive, her joy and kindness, her quiet strength, will carry her far. Of that I have no doubt.

Wherever she goes, and whatever she does, in the years to come, Maddie will leave a huge mark on this world.

And when she does, we will look back at her Coupeville days, nod and smile, and say, “There was never a doubt.”

Inducting her into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame is an easy decision.

After this, when you stroll past the top of the blog, Vondrak will be up there, hanging out under the Legends tab.

She deserves all the praise, all the recognition, even if she will likely deflect it to those around her.

Maddie is a talented volleyball player, but a better human being.

The former let her make an impact in the relatively small world of Cow Town sports.

The latter means she helps make our universe a happier and healthier place, which matters far more.

You’re an amazing young woman, Miss Vondrak, on your way to even-bigger accomplishments, and that’s something we can all agree on.