Madison Mathiowetz, a junior guard for the SDSU Jackrabbits, comes from a basketball family. But just saying she comes from a basketball family is an understatement.
All four of her grandpa’s kids were 1,000-point scorers in high school, including her dad, and an aunt who also played Division III college basketball.
Just like some of her relatives, Mathiowetz also ended her career with over 1,000 points in high school while she attended Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.
To be more specific, Mathiowetz had 3,762 points, 1,343 rebounds, 498 assists and 458 steals during her high school career. She also holds the St. Mary’s school record for points in a single game with 50, and the record for points in a season with 1,046.
“I had an awesome high school experience,” Mathiowetz said.
Mathiowetz played at a small school in Minnesota, where she had 20 kids in her graduating class. She had the opportunity to compete for state championships in her time in high school.
“When I was younger, I got to watch my family play a lot,” said Mathiowetz.
Her aunts, uncles and parents all played basketball. She was surrounded by the sport growing up. That environment is where she says her competitive nature came from. It’s what made her fall in love with basketball because it brought her family together.
After graduating, she committed to SDSU. Mathiowetz was drawn to the close-knit community that SDSU has, the fan base and their love of women’s basketball.
“The second I stepped foot on campus, I knew that the girls here and Coach AJ [Aaron Johnston] and the staff wanted what was best for everyone around them and really supported each other through everything, and that was something I knew I wanted to be a part of,” said Mathiowetz.
Mathiowetz had a solid freshman season where she started one game and averaged just over three points per outing.
But it was her sophomore season when she broke out.
Mathiowetz averaged double-digit points for the Jackrabbits and helped lead the team to a conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
This season, Mathiowetz is currently averaging over eight points a game, and almost four rebounds. She is shooting over 37 percent behind the three-point line. Mathiowetz is doing this while starting every game and playing almost 24 minutes per game.
Mathiowetz attributed her jump from her freshman to her sophomore year to her team.
“I think being part of a really good team was a big part of that,” Mathiowetz said. “It made me push myself to get better, and it allowed me to learn from the players that came before me. And I think just that attention to detail and knowing what I needed to do to help our team be successful, that’s what helped with that.”
Even though Mathiowetz contributed right away in her freshman season, it wasn’t easy.
“Yeah, the transition [from high school to college] was definitely tough,” Mathiowetz said. “I would say the biggest difference is the level of detail that the college game entails, just on every side of the basketball, like offense defense, there are just so many different things that I definitely didn’t think of when I was in high school.”
Head coach Johnston agrees that the adjustment period was probably hard for Mathiowetz, or for any freshman who is used to playing entire games and scoring most of the points to come to SDSU and have to sit and play minimal minutes when they first join the team.
Scoring points is not the only thing Mathiowetz brings to the Jackrabbits.
Junior Jackrabbit guard and Mathiowetz’s roommate, Ellie Colbeck, described Mathiowetz as a leader who is very caring. “Super humble” and “great leader” are some of the words Colbeck used to describe Mathiowetz.
“She’ll go down and make a big play, then run down the court like nothing even happened, just ready for the next play,” said Colbeck. “She’s super encouraging as well, whether that’s in the locker room or on the court.”
Mathiowetz lifts up her teammates on the court and off the court as well.
“She’s super kind and intentional outside of basketball, always just looking for how she can make your day better, your life better,” Colbeck said. “She asks how your class went or how your day went.”
“I think Maddie is just a great teammate, a great overall person,” Johnston said. “I think she’s someone that’s really thoughtful. Thinks of others first. I think she wants to do really well in her role, but she wants to do really well in her role because it helps the team. She’s just a very giving personality, very positive, high energy. Yeah, she’s a lot of fun to have on the team.”
Besides being a leader for the Jackrabbits on and off the court, Mathiowetz is also a biology major and has made the Summit League Academic Honor Roll in her freshman and sophomore years.
Mathiowetz’s goal is to attend Northwestern Health and Sciences grad school after her senior year and become a chiropractor.
“It’s a fun balance,” Mathiowetz said. “It’s tough, but I enjoy learning and growing for my future too.”
According to head coach Johnston and teammate Colbeck, Mathiowetz is a leader for the Jackrabbits and is someone who makes the right plays on the court. Off the court, she is a kind person who is always looking out for her teammates and friends.
Mathiowetz is a big reason why the Jackrabbits are back-to-back Summit League Champions, and if the Jacks are able to make it three in a row, Mathiowetz will also be a big reason for that.
For coverage of Mathiowetz and SDSU’s game against North Dakota State on Wednesday night, check sdsucollegian.com.