BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PIPPA PASSES — Former Martin County standout athlete Madison “Maddie” Thompson has finished up a decorative career at Alice Lloyd College.
She is the daughter of Mary and James Thompson of Martin County.
Thompson began her high school career in 2014 at Sheldon Clark, later transitioning to Martin County High School.
Throughout her career in Inez, she averaged 18.8 points per game shooting 42.7% from the field. She brought down 13.7 rebounds per game and shot 72.3% from the free-throw line.
Martin County High School’s first 57th District championship came in 2020 with Thompson making the 15th Region All-Tournament Team.
She amassed over 1500 career points and rebounds while blocking over 500 shots for the Cardinals.
Thompson led the state in the 2018-2019 season in rebounding. She signed with Alice Lloyd College during her senior season and graduated at the top of her class from Martin County High School.
Maddie continued her journey of being a champion in Pippa Passes.
The Eagles won the 2021 NCCAA D1 National Championship with Thompson making the All-Tournament Team.
During that season, she accumulated the block shot and rebound awards.
She continued to add hardware to an already stacked shelf.
In the 2022-2023 she was an NCCAA D1 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete and River States Conference Scholar-Athlete. She once again won the 2023 Rebound Award and made the NCAA All-Academic Team.
Thompson followed that up with two more Rebound and Blocked Shot Awards in 2024.
“Coach (John) Mills was a great coach. He’s very knowledgeable of the game and he cares a lot about his players and his community. He does what it takes to win, and I was blessed to have him,” Thompson said of the 1978 Sheldon Clark High School graduate.
Academically, Thompson made the dean’s list in the fall and spring during her senior year. Maddie was a 2024 NCCAA Scholar Athlete while being a member of the Allied Health Club.
“I enjoyed my time at Alice Lloyd because of the family-like atmosphere and the small class sizes. It made it easier to become more personal with your peers and professors, giving you everything you need to succeed. Not to mention, it’s also a very beautiful campus,” Thompson said of the college nestled between the mountains.
The standout athlete graduated this spring with honors and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.
She plans to attend dental school to become a dentist.
Maddie extends a thank you to her family for their unwavering support – her teammates who have become like family – her professors who provided academic guidance and encouragement – and friends from the Alice Lloyd community.