Peak Performer: Lewis-Palmer’s Madi Crowe building her nest
Madi Crowe displayed a keen awareness for her teammates on the volleyball court even as a freshman.
In 2022, Crowe noticed several of her Lewis-Palmer teammates doubled over with tears streaming down their faces.
The Rangers had just wrapped the season, a 3-0 loss to Thompson Valley in the semifinals of the state tournament. The Rangers’ 20-10 record doubled their previous year’s win total and was a drastic change from their 10-15 mark in 2021.
Crowe understood she had multiple opportunities to earn a state title for Lewis-Palmer.
But this week’s Peak Performer said her heart bled for her teammates who couldn’t bring a state title back to Lewis-Palmer High School.
“I’m still super close with a lot of the people from that team like Amya Speller, it hit when I saw her upset,” Crowe said. “When seniors cry it hits you. Walking off knowing we were this close to being in the finals was tough. It was an amazing season but that was really tough for me.”
Lewis-Palmer volleyball player Madi Crowe poses for portrait on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. After a heart-wrenching loss in the semifinals last year, Crowe is hoping her hard work in the off-season will help lead the team to a state title. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)
Crowe had already demonstrated a work ethic beyond that of a freshman in her first season with Lewis-Palmer.
Immediately after the loss to Thompson Valley in the semifinals, Crowe became laser focused, grinding to give her upperclassmen teammates an opportunity to hoist the trophy at season’s end.
Crowe participated in the Colorado State University ID Volleyball camp, University of Wyoming Elite camp and penciled in time to play for her club team, the Colorado Juniors.
Crowe believes her offseason work paid dividends toward her sophomore campaign.
Lewis-Palmer coach Alexa Strube has noticed the shift in the sophomore’s game and demeanor.
“This year Madi is even more confident in what she’s doing and that’s only going to go up as she gets older,” Strube said. “I think a lot of her confidence comes from her teammates. She has such a great personality on and off the floor and I think her teammates reciprocate that to her. She knows she’s surrounded by a great team of girls. Our coaching staff and players believe in her.”
Last season, Crowe finished with a hitting percentage of .209. Through 14 games this year, Crowe sits at .233. Crowe also has 15 blocks this year, just three shy of her total from her freshman season.
Crowe also helped the Rangers slay their foe Palmer Ridge in straight sets Sept. 26, an accomplishment that had eluded Lewis-Palmer since Nov. 6, 2019.
“We all put in so much work and effort to have so many wins,” Crowe said. “It’s never just one person. All the work that setters put in, the work liberos put in and the work that all hitters put in is really important.”
Crowe has embraced her role as a leader and helps guide younger, and occasionally older, teammates in similar fashion to how seniors embraced her as a freshman.
Crowe hopes her encouraging words and positive vibes will pay dividends in the future for the Rangers.
“We’re already a really close team and we have chemistry,” Crowe said. “I feel like once we have even more we’ll be even more unstoppable.”
Lewis-Palmer sophomore Madi Crowe poses for a portrait in the high school’s gym before a volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Crowe joined the varsity team as a freshman last year. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)