It's official and a dream come true for Madison Howell from Guelph who recently signed a scholarship to play, coach and study at Mayville State University in September.
The 18-year-old GCVI student will join the university women's golf team, a program now in it's third year.
"I'm super grateful. It's something I've been working for pretty much my whole life," Howell said.
"For something that, 10 years ago, was a dream for me, and has now become my reality, it really is so exciting to be able to help build a program that is still fairly new."
Playing golf since she was just three-years-old, Howell has competed in various tournaments including the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, (MJT) Canada’s number one Junior Golf Tour, at Settler’s Ghost Golf Club in Barrie last year.
Among the top finishers. she came in third place in the MJT Girls 15-19 age category.
But when it comes to sports, golf isn’t Howell’s only passion.
For many years, she hoped that one day, playing competitive golf could lead to a scholarship to pursue her number one sport, football.
"I've also received a scholarship to continue my coaching career with the Mayville State University football team. I really am so excited. Golf is a huge passion of mine and one that I love, but over the past three years, I have really fallen in love with football and coaching. It's definitely what I see myself doing," Howell said.
An assistant coach for her high school football team, Howell says her goal is to become a line coach in the NFL.
"My end goal, is to coach the offensive or defensive line. This past year, I've worked mainly with the offensive line with my high school, same with my U18 team, and that's where I really found the passion for it," Howell said.
"But I was also able to coach a bit of special teams with my high school this year too, which I really liked."
Howell has coached the U16 Junior Gryphons as a defensive assistant, her high school team as an offensive line coach, as well as the U18 Men’s Tackle Junior Gryphons team as an assistant offensive line coach.
"I'm going to be able to continue both sports while also study for a Bachelor of Science in Sport Coaching. I'm super excited because both coaches are willing to work with me, so I can give my time equally to both sports," Howell said.
Howell is grateful for the support she has received from family and friends.
"My parent are very proud. My mom, dad and grandfather are my biggest supporters. We are going to visit the school next week which is very exciting," she said.
On Oct. 25,GCVI held a signing ceremony where Howell officially committed to Mayville State University.
"I had a bunch of my football team come out, my closet friends and family, and my football coach, Coach Crabbe," Howell said.
"And teachers that have supported me though high school were there too, including my math teacher, Mr. Young, who taught me all four years of high school and someone I'm very grateful for in taking the time to teach me because math is not my strongest subject."
Howell hopes to continue to support and encourage women in sports.
"I definitely think that this school is where I am supposed to be now. I think that it's going to do a lot of good for me and I really hope that I'm able to make change in their football and golf program," Howell said
"I'm really excited for this and I hope to inspire other young girls who are passionate about football or about male dominated sports to just go for it," Howell said.
Whether it's a hobby, or playing sports, Howell says there's no reason why you can't take something you are passionate about, and turn it into a career.
"I did with golf and football. I hope people realize that they can too," she said.
"There's always a possibility."
