Student Athlete of the Week Madison Dodge

After transferring out of Boulder High School's softball program following her freshman season, Madison Dodge remains grateful to have found a welcoming home at Niwot High School.

Dodge, an outfielder, attends the Dawson School but because the private Lafayette prep institution doesn't have a softball program, she initially opted to play at Boulder. Unfortunately, things didn't work out with the Panthers, so she decided to join Niwot's program ahead of her sophomore year.

Looking back, the rising senior believes transferring was one of the best decisions she has ever made.

"I love all the coaches and all the girls," Dodge said. "Even though I don't go to school there, I still talk to most of them every day. They really included me in the environment. We go to soccer games all the time and when we're in the Niwot softball season, we pretty much hang out every day. All the girls are so inclusive."

Because she couldn't join the Cougars' varsity team as a sophomore due to CHSAA transfer rules, Dodge spent her first year at Niwot playing junior varsity softball for head coach Adam Strah. She made her varsity debut last fall and soon became a reliable offensive weapon, finishing the season with a .308 batting average, 15 RBIs, and nine stolen bases, according to MaxPreps. With Dodge's help, Niwot reached the Class 4A state tournament for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Dodge thanked Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews and now-graduated seniors Zoe Cameron, Anne Booth, Jenna Hobson, and Autumn Rutherford for making her first varsity season special.

"It was honestly one of the most fun seasons I've ever played," Dodge said. "All the girls made it such a great season, especially all the senior girls that are gone now. It's definitely going to be a lot harder. They all made such a nice environment, and made every day very fun for everyone to be there... We made it super, super far, and I hope we can get there again this year, too."

This summer, Dodge is focused on becoming a role model for Niwot's underclassmen.

"It's really exciting to see younger girls looking up to me and being able to use some leadership skills that I learned from the seniors last year," Dodge said. "(I'm trying) to incorporate that and make the younger girls feel as happy as I felt when I joined the program."

Dodge also believes she's well on her way to increasing her power numbers at the plate. While playing club softball for the Colorado Angels (16U Becker) this summer, she cranked at least three home runs, including one at a recent tournament in California.

"I've been weightlifting a lot trying to get stronger," Dodge said. "For my club season, I've become so much more stronger. It's so nice to see that my hard work is paying off. I definitely hope that it transfers into my final Niwot season."

Although she's open to playing softball at the next level, Dodge's top priority is finding a college that fits her well academically. She's currently leaning toward nursing as an academic focus.

Niwot softball is scheduled to open the 2024 season on Aug. 17 at Golden High School.