By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Taking on a leadership role is always a challenging task, whether on a team, in the classroom, in the office or out in the community. Doing so during a global pandemic raises that bar to a new level.
Madeline Watts did just that during a time in which many questioned whether normalcy would ever return. A sophomore member of the Tennessee Tech women's cross country and track & field teams, she made it her mission to act almost like a player-coach over the spring, summer and into the fall.
During that time, Watts helped support quarantined teammates by bringing them meals, conducting follow-up calls and being there as a figure of mental support. She always kept an open channel to those who needed it during one of the most challenging times for a student-athlete in recent memory.
"Maddy doesn't only run miles for the Tennessee Tech cross country and track & field teams," assistant coach Kimour Bruce expressed," she also goes the extra miles for her teammates."
In her freshman campaign, Watts participated in all five of Tech's cross country meets, finishing with a personal-best time in the 5K of 21:24.4 at the Upstate Invitational. Majoring in fine arts, she has twice been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
"Maddy is the epitome of a true teammate," head coach Peter Dalton added. "She is selfless, kind and always thinking of others first. The everyday examples by Maddy, as part of our cross country and track family, are how we care for each other within our programs, despite the challenges."
It is for these qualities and dedication that Watts is the recipient of the 2020 September Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during the past month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
