Madison Malecha named this year’s top female athlete at Burnsville High School

A three-sport athlete and exceptional student-leader, Burnsville High School senior Madison Malecha received the school’s 2024 Athena Award. The award, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and skills, recognizes outstanding high school female student-athletes for their excellence in individual sports or for participation and accomplishments in team sports.

Madison holds a total of 11 varsity letters, including four letters in tennis, four in basketball and three in track & field. She has been honored as “MVP” twice, this year in basketball and last year in track. She has received four conference awards — two in basketball and one in both tennis and track and field — and earned Academic All-State honors in tennis.  

“I've enjoyed coaching Madison since her 10th-grade season in track and field,” said Coach Abigail Adkins. “She has been such a positive, reliable leader each year. Now as a senior, Madison serves as an excellent role model for our younger athletes. She leads by example, puts in the hard work and is humble about her accomplishments.” 

This year in basketball, Madison said one of the highlights was scoring 35 points in the team’s double-overtime win against conference rival Prior Lake. Other highlights for Madison include earning a trip to the Hamline Elite Meet and placing 3rd at the Section 3AAA meet last year. Although high jump is Madison's specialty, she is a versatile sprinter, running the open 200-meter and 400-meter dashes, and has also been a leader on the 4x400 and 4x200 meter relay teams.

Though Madison has certainly excelled in athletics during her high school career, she is also blazing a trail in the classroom, consistently maintaining a high grade point average.

“Madison is a positive presence in the classroom, a diligent student who works hard to find academic success,” said BurnsvilleStrong advisor Katie Burke.

In addition to her numerous athletic and academic accolades, Madison is an avid volunteer and positively impacts her community as a BurnsvilleStrong member. 

“Madison has spent a great amount of time and care as a volunteer in our Blaze Nation Station, a free store for students in need of clothes, hygiene products, school supplies and more,” said Courtnee Floback, youth services coordinator. “Madison's dedication to her school community and community at large is evident in the service she has provided and in the way in which she carries herself as a leader within the community.” 

Next fall, Madison is headed to University of Wisconsin-Stout to play basketball and major in environmental science.

Madison will receive her award at the 52nd annual awards luncheon on Friday, May 3 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Minneapolis.