CHICAGO – In its 34th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, the Gatorade Company announced Jan. 15 that Maddie Koch of Ashwaubenon High School was its 2018-19 Gatorade Wisconsin Volleyball Player of the Year.
Koch is the first Gatorade Wisconsin Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from Ashwaubenon High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Koch as Wisconsin’s best high school volleyball player.
Koch is now a finalist for Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the year.
The 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter recorded 530 kills and 299 digs this past season, leading the Jaguars (30-8) to the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal.
Koch also tallied 56 service aces and 43 blocks, posting a kill percentage of .512 and a hitting percentage of .345.
An American Volleyball Coaches Association Third Team All-American selection, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,354 kills and 703 digs.
A member of the Ashwaubenon High School student council, Koch has volunteered locally as a youth volleyball coach and has donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through her church.
“Maddie is one of the best student-athletes to come through our doors and make a difference at Ashwaubenon High School,” said Ashwaubenon Activities Director/Associate Principal Nick Senger. “Not only is she a highly gifted volleyball player, but she is a great teammate and leader in our school.”
Koch also gained praise from local coaches.
“Maddie was a phenomenal offensive threat,” said Bethany Barber, head coach of Appleton East High School. “Maddie hit the best I’ve coached against in 10 years. Her offensive swing from the back row was effective as well.”
Koch has maintained a weighted 4.07 GPA in the classroom.
She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball on scholarship at Purdue University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls’ volleyball, cross country, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, and track and field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
As a part of Gatorade’s cause marketing platform “Play it Forward,” Koch has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national youth sports organization of her choosing.
She is also eligible to submit an essay to win one of 12 $10,000 spotlight grants for the organization of her choice, which will be announced throughout the year.