HOLDEN — Wachusett Regional High School’s Madison Grignon isn’t the first student-athlete to overcome adversity and turn it into positive gains, nor is she likely to be the last.
But Grignon took a negative and quietly turned it into a positive, eventually earning herself the role of team co-captain for both the 2021 and 2022 Mountaineer girls’ varsity soccer team. The irony that she was cut from the middle school roster, a move that to most people would end their zeal to be successful on the pitch, is not lost on her.
“I’ve had a lot of really good coaching over the years, and playing club at a young age was such an advantage for me,” Grignon said. “In fifth grade, I tried out for my middle school team. I was cut, and that was such a setback but actually the best thing that could have happened to me. I started really working hard, and that setback was what really pushed me. Plus, my mom, who had played college soccer, was a huge help in my learning the game.”
The 2022 season that recently concluded saw Grignon at center/back, a position that plays a pivotal role in the team’s success.
“I wanted to be a center/back my whole life. I had a coach in seventh grade who told me that was what I should be playing, and I haven’t moved since then,” she said. “I really enjoy working as a team. I love being in the center of the field and connecting with the strikers and the defense. Playing at such a high level, we’re all committed, and it’s nice to be part of that energy.”
Former WRHS soccer standout Emma Mailman had her first season as a head coach this year. As a 2016 Wachusett grad, she brings a new and refreshing approach to the sidelines, something hugely popular with Grignon and her teammates.
“It (Mailman’s style of coaching) was different and super-refreshing,” said Grignon, who hails from Holden. “Coach just understands us really well. She’s not a coach that’s so much older than us. She’d tell us to get on the line because we’re going to run, and she can do that. She runs with us, and she’s such a motivator who has those same skills. It’s nice to have someone to look up to that I want to be as a person.
Grignon is a solid proponent of team chemistry making a difference in game outcomes. Bonding and having role models can move the needle forward, she believes.
“It’s all about building chemistry, and it’s super fun to be a part of it. We want each other to exceed. There’s no pettiness. It’s super fun. I’ve always been told by coaches that my biggest strength is distribution, and I’ve kind of built on that.
“A lot of players have inspired me. My freshman year playing with a lot of juniors and seniors, we were all so team-oriented. They’ve kind of instilled that in me.” Grignon is currently exploring college options with an eye towards a career in international relations. Her soccer days may carry on through club or intramural play, but that remains to be seen, as her academics will be first priority. She is a member of the National Honor Society and coaches youth soccer in town while serving as a mentor for fifth- and eighth-grade students who are paired up for transition to their next grades. She considers it a matter of pride to represent her school and community. “I love being a part of Wachusett soccer,” she said of her feelings toward representing her team and community. “When I was younger, I’d go watch these games, but now putting on that jersey makes my younger self proud as much as it represents my team and my school and my community. I love being a Mountaineer and putting on that jersey.”
