An Outstanding Leader that Sparked Life Into Her Team
I have yet to meet Madison, but I feel we are already friends. She is so welcoming and spirited, you feel like you’ve known her for forever, after just one weekend. When I asked Texas A&M sophomore Emily Nash, she said “I don’t know how to explain Madison Hayden…You can’t put Madison Hayden in words.” “Above and beyond” was mentioned by a few people, including Rachel Gawlik (also A&M), who wanted everyone to know “[Madison] can finish an entire pizza.”
Madison’s amazing personality does more than spark instant friendships, she also rebuilt her team. When Madison joined University of Arkansas Water Ski (UArk), she had just transferred from Indiana University. The previous president had just saved the Arkansas team from going extinct, but the team was still endangered. UArk site owner and collegiate water ski supporter Roger Boskus said “When Madison took over, the team was teetering on the edge of chaos. Madison took the team from a social club, to a competitive team, attending tournaments, and going all the way to Nationals; this was their first Nationals. In 30 years, they’ve never been competitive until now.”
“When I was a freshman, I didn’t know they had a team, or were in our region” says Rachel. But Madison got the word out, and grew the team. Since Madison’s first tournament with Arkansas, Regionals 2015, the team has never missed a tournament. Madison created a baseline for organizational functions that were never in place before: budgets, regular practice hours, goals for the team, regular meetings, and a leadership structure. “Madison is awesome, she’s super responsive, everything is always taken care of.” With the many requirements from NCWSA and University Of Arkansas Clubs Sports, Hayden made sure nothing ever fell through the cracks.
Madison would take her own car to every tournament, acting as equipment trailer. She adopts freshman, and introduces them to ski-veterans, so they get that warm fuzzy feeling of friendship next time they roll up to a site. No matter the team, Madison makes sure there is always someone on the dock with each skier, and a whole crowd cheering on the sidelines. Arkansas and TAMU often are cheering for each other, and offering tips to newbies. “On the dock, she’ll be screaming her head off, just because her freshman got up.”
Working with Boskus’ daughter, Julianna, who skis for the University of Alabama, Madison lead UArk’s first recruitment event. She hosted prospective students / Arkansas AWSA skiers at her apartment for a weekend, and took them to a football game. “She let them experience what it would be like to be on our team, part of our family, if they went to school here.” This initiative grew the team, and reflected the team culture and NCWSA Spirit. “Everyone on the team was always made to feel at home, and that they were needed on the team. They are such a close friend group, and Madison is at the center” says Rachel.
When asked on how she keeps the team so tight-knit, Madison responded “I have no power, it’s people showing up that makes the team.” Madison was shocked when she heard she won this award, “I honestly didn’t think that I would win, but the South Central Region must have really helped, and it feels really nice to be recognized.” Rachel says everyone voted for Madison because of how much she worked for it and deserved it. “She did so much behind the scenes work, she needs to be recognized.” On her leadership, friends said “Madison is bossy, but not mean. She delegates nicely.” Rachel added “when Madison asks something of people, they do it, because they want to, because Madison asked. People respect her, and listen to her.”
After 2.5 years building up the team, Madison was excited to be responsibility-free for her senior year, and focus more on her skiing. Fate had other plans, when the elected president transferred schools at the last minute, Madison thought nothing of stepping back in, and keeping the team on track. “It was natural to help” said Emily. Emily also noted that Madison was not a lifelong 3-eventer, like many in the region. When it came to tournaments, no one could tell this was the case, as Madison knows all the officials and judges, and always pitched in.
Fall 2017, the Razorbacks held their first home tourney, after much of Madison’s hard work. With the help of her region, Madison learned what it takes to host, found a new lake when their home site wasn’t available (Thanks Greenie!), and hopped through every hoop of UArk club sports. “It was the most fun tourney I’ve ever been too. [Madison] went out of her way to make it a blast!” Emily shared. Madison, from her own pocket, purchased and designed a Snapchat filter for the event, the first we’ve seen for an NCWSA tournament. Madison wanted to be sure that everyone, present or not, knew that weekend at Bullneck Lake was a great one. The tournament was a huge fundraiser for the team as well, bringing in $4k! The team is now using that money for apparel, and new jump skis.
When I asked what Madison was most proud of, she said she would be proud if the team continued to thrive. “I’ve done so much to bring this team back. I hope I have put the team on a trajectory to continue.”
Congrats to Madison Hayden on being named the 2017 NCWSA Outstanding Female Leader of the Year!
Thank you for your dedication to #GrowTheSport, and for your exemplary #NCWSASpirit
Favorite Memories
Regionals 2015, My first tournament with the team. Our 10 hr drive to Katy Texas took 12 hrs. We had never been to that tourney, it was dark, and we didn’t know where to go. We followed the voices, and emerged from the bushes to a campfire surrounded by SCR skiers. Every team cheered at their arrival,and welcomed them in. It made us feel so included, and I made some best friends that weekend.
— Madison
I met Madison in fall 2016 at a tournament in Monroe. I was a freshman, hungry, and freezing. Madison said “hop in the car, we’re getting donuts.” Since then, they are together 24/7 at tournaments, and talk 3-4 times/week.
— Emily
All Stars 2017, we were at Bullneck lake, and I had thrown out my back the week before. Of course I still skied. Madison took care of me. After the skiing was done, before dinner, we decided to do a slip and slide down the muddy slope into the lake. We donned trash bags in an attempt to keep our clothes clean. It didn’t work. We were covered in mud. We jumped in the lake to wash off, and my back was in PAIN. Madison, kind as she is, says she will carry me back to the tents. I refuse, but Madison insists. “LEGS OF STEEL!” Madison yells, as she lifts me to her back. As we emerge from the water towards the stone stairs, it gets harder and harder to carry me. As we get to the steps, Madison loses her balance and we go straight back in the shallow water…onto my back. We laughed, Madison still on me, for 5 minutes straight. Laughing through the pain, Madison eventually helped me back to my tent. She had to help me get dressed that day.
Polar Bear Tourney, we were hungry, and went to the grocery store…in bathing suits, without shoes. Someone was demonstrating a device that cores a pineapple, turning the pineapple hollow. Madison sees this, and has to have it, to use as a cup. She buys it, and a pineapple, then goes to Mcdonald’s to fill it up.
— Rachel
Thank you to Emily Nash and Rachel Gawlik for your testimonials and memories. I tried my best to work all your favorite Madison stories into this article, but there were so many! Shout out to Roger Boskus, for hosting the team at Cedar Creek Ski Park, and all your support of Collegiate Water Skiing. Thanks to Texas A&M, Madison’s “closest friends since Regionals 2015.” Your advice and friendship helped keep the UArk team alive. Finally to the Greenwood family, you’re “Crazy inspiration” and #goals. While slightly cannibalistic for the Razorback school, Madison fondly remembers and appreciates you smoking pork shoulder for their tournament.
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