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Video Transcript
Paul Condry
Welcome to the Wiekamp Athletic Center at Bethel University Women’s Volleyball Media Day today. My name is Paul Khoury, the longtime voice of the pilots. Glad that you can join us here today. My very special guest is Madison Beaver. Glad to have her with us today. And going in for the last go around for Mattie. She’s going to be graduating. She’s taking that fifth year option that was granted by the NCAA. And let’s start right there, Maddie. First of all, you have a lot of student athletes across the country had that opportunity because of the COVID dynamic and whatnot. So give us an idea what went into your mindset of wanting to continue to your career and be a part of what has been a really successful run the last couple of years?
National championship, two years ago, 29 wins this past year. So tell us why you wanted to come back.
Mady Beaver
Yeah. So, I mean, I knew right off the bat when I heard that we were getting that extra year of eligibility, that that was I wanted to stay a fifth year here. I mean, again, you mentioned just amazing seasons last few years and just what this team means to me and how much we’ve grown and how united we are as a team.
I knew that if I had this opportunity and I didn’t take it, that I would regret it later on. And I’m just super, super pumped to get to go have one last go around with this team.
PC
You know, the other interesting dynamic is, you know, Katie Weeks is going to you know, she’s been here for your entire time now. Right. So it’s a situation you guys have kind of grown into each other in regards to her first year as a coach. You know, you’re coming in at the same time. So kind of give us an idea on the relationship. You’re also a captain on the on this year’s team. Kind of give us an idea where you’re at in your relationship with the Hall of Fame, coach of the pilots?
MB
Yeah. I mean, Coach Katie is just she literally is like my second mom. She not only cares about us, his student athletes, but as people as well. And she will only recruit somebody if, you know, they’re going to add to the program and just develop us as a team. So she is I mean, literally my second mom and I love being around her, love talking to her.
I can go to her at any point, but she pushes us to be better and she holds us to a really high level of excellence.
PC
And obviously had to feel very, very good because you’re part of the Crossroads League all second team this past year and you’re also this situation. You’re the I.N.S., CIA Student Athlete of the Week. You’ve done a lot of really neat things. But one of the most unique things that you do that people may or may not know is that you’re fluent in sign language, or are the vision and the mindset to take you along that interesting path of life?
MB
Yeah. So I started off taking sign language in eighth grade, actually back in Washington. They just had it as an offer, as one of the languages that I could take. And I was like, I think that I could use that in my educational path. And then we had it all throughout high school, and I needed a minor for my education courses here, and I knew it could come in handy.And I actually just had in my student teaching one deaf student. So I actually got to interact with him through sign language and that was really special. And lots of people through Bethel also who just know sign language and I love having it as a skill.
PC
So from a high school perspective and now you’re making the transition to the college and you’re going to be finished it out. So you’ve been a state champion, you’ve been a national champion. You’ve had a lot of success, statistically speaking, 27th in the NBA in service ACES led the team in assists percent with 5.3. So you’re one of the most versatile athletes on this team because you had to come off the floor.
And that being said, can you talk about what you’re the most proud of as you look back on that high school career? All the accolades. They’re all the accolades in the college level. What are you the most proud of?
MB
I think just how much we’ve grown, how much I’ve grown, you know, at facing adversity, whether it’s moving, you know, across the United States and Pennsylvania from coming in from Washington in high school. But then also just I think where we started off freshman and sophomore year, we started I mean, we had a losing record freshman, my freshman and sophomore year and then turning it right around and winning Nationals junior year is just amazing.
And that is props to coach and every single one that has come through this program and just the ability to never give up, not have that grit and just the never say die attitude that we’re not done and we’re not just going to be okay with having these losing seasons. So I think just being able to add to that in whatever role I play.
PC
You guys have gone from a lower tier team in the Crossroads league to one of the top four or five teams in the Crossroads League. So you guys have made great strides in regards to your competitiveness and already one of the best conferences in the country. Can you speak to the maturation of this group and this team as a whole and how it’s played so competitively? I mean, last year you guys were amazing. You guys were 16 and three here at home. And you also defeated Marion last year, which of course, was the defending champions. So you broke their long time streak. So kind of give us an idea as you look at those teams development in league play, you have to be very, very pleased.
MB
Yes, I think it’s just it’s what we put into practice. Coach expects nothing less than our absolute best every single time that we step on that court. And we just had to have that mindset that we can do anything, that we put our minds to and we never stop every single time. There’s never an off day, there’s never an off practice. We always have to be on and developing every single skill that we have and putting that into play and that we are never afraid to like lose when anything like we’re ready and know that we can compete with anybody and beat anybody that we come up against.
PC
Well, it was an adventurous summer for Madison because not only did she go on the missions trip, but the with the volleyball team, but she also had a chance to go to the Holy Land, to go to Israel. And I’ve been told by people I’ve never been there, but I’ve been told by people I know who have gone to the Holy Land that they have said that the Bible comes alive.
Now, when you started thinking about it and you think about some of the places that are listed in named in the Bible and where it’s at right now. So is that the same where you feel?
MB
Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, we got the opportunity. We would read the story in the Bible and then we got to actually go and see it. And I mean, the Dead Sea where Jesus carried his cross, we got to walk up that path. And it was just absolutely amazing. And I will never, ever read those stories the same again.
PC
Now, talk about the mission strip and the talk about how your life was changed. I’ve also talked to a lot of athletes in the last 20 years here that they say that we’ve been more transformed in ministering to others than the people that you were ministering to. Was that the case for you?
MB
Absolutely. I mean, we got to go to different orphanages and those kids impacted all of us so much, just understanding how little they have, but how joyful they were. They ran up to us right away, even if we weren’t playing volleyball. They just wanted to like color with us or run around, play tag, anything. And it was just amazing to experience that with our team and just hear what God had for us and grow as a team through the missions trip.
PC
Let’s bring this back to this current 22, 23 season, if you will. This team returns. A powerful lineup you talk about is the North Green. You talk about Matty Payne. We can go up and down the line. Jackie Fernandez A lot of these girls have been all conference all-American honors. Can you speak to what you think the opportunities that lie ahead for this volleyball team this season?
MB
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we have just like you said, we have some powerhouse people in all aspects. And what’s great is that there is anybody at any point that can step on that court if we need them to, and know that we can have full confidence in them. I mean, Izzy and Maddie are just insane, and I know anytime I give them the ball, they’re going to get it done.
Jackie and all of our defenders, Rachel, everybody, we know that they can get us a great ball as a setter. I know that I can depend on them to, you know, pick up anything subversive. Well, the freshmen coming in are absolutely amazing as well, and they’re just going to keep adding to our program. And yeah, it’s awesome.
PC
When you a final thought obviously you and I have had a chance to interact throughout the course of the season. You’ve been on press row with me doing games. We put headsets on whether it be doing baseball or doing basketball. But you’ve never had a chance to listen to Paul do volleyball because you’ve always been playing volleyball. My suggestion for this year is make sure that you stay injury free so you never have to sit next to Paul to a volleyball game. How’s that sound?
MB
Yes, sir. I would love to finish out my fifth year injury free.
PC
Well, we hope you have a great season. Once again, we thank you for taking time. We’re at Bethel University for Women’s Volleyball Media Day, and we’ll be back right after this. Short time out.