Maddie Mooney ’21 started playing soccer when she was just 5 years old, after years of hard work and diligence, she was selected to travel with the U17 US National team to the Czech Republic this past year. Mooney describes, “It was an amazing opportunity. I got to meet so many people and make so many new friends that I’m still in touch with today.”

Maddie has gained an abundance of fun memories and interesting experiences through her travels for soccer. She described a specific time in the Czech Republic when her and her team got a chance to go into the city and explore. Mooney states, “This guy put a snake on my shoulders. Then he tried to ask me for money, so I ran away.”

In addition to her trip to the Czech Republic, Maddie travels about every other weekend nationally with her club team, Reign Academy. She describes how much she has sacrificed to play soccer at a such a high level. Mooney describes, “I’ve missed out on a lot of my high school experience. Football games, basketball games, high school sports. I’ve missed every Halloween since freshman year. But, when you’re playing and winning it’s all worth it. You realize everything you’ve worked for paid off.”

Although she has sacrificed a lot, she has also gained and learned so much through soccer. She has come to value hard work along with the importance of teamwork. “I have gained a hard work ethic and learned a lot about what it means to be a good teammate. We are constantly working for one another, and the best feeling is when you are playing as a unit and it’s like everything you have been training for in practice starts clicking and it’s all worth it.”

Maddie has recently committed to Notre Dame and describes her excitement to play for them after high school. She explains, “I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. Represent my school. Something I have not experienced in high school.”

As Maddie continues her soccer at Notre Dame, she will continue to be a representative of an exemplary Seattle Prep student. She carries that title abroad, wherever she goes, and continues to amaze the Seattle Prep community with her hard work and accomplishments.