Four state medals in one day not enough to quench Madison Ziska’s competitive thirst

Track & Field coverage presented by ATT Sports, Inc.

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

There’s a feeling Madison Ziska remembers more than the times she ran or the distances she jumped. It came at the end of her craziest day. When the skies opened and the rain fell.

Ziska and Ashlyn Giles, the athletes most responsible for bringing home Schuylkill Valley’s first PIAA championship in girls track and field, extended their arms and let the achievement wash over them.

All of their hard work was finished. All of the pressure was gone. It was time to relax and celebrate. Ziska has a photo capturing that moment.

“That was a really cool experience,” she said. “That’s when we found out we won states. It’s a cute picture. It’s one of my favorites. It’s pouring and we have our medals on.”

Ziska’s performance at Shippensburg last Memorial Day weekend holds a singular place in Berks history. Four state medals in a few dizzying hours.

Because of a schedule change due to COVID-19, all of the Class 2A events were held on one day. Preliminary heats and finals. Relays and jumps. Everything packed together.

“It was very hectic,” she said. “Going from one place to the other very fast. I know the adrenaline definitely helps so much. The adrenaline will kick in and I’ll just go.”

At one point, when Ziska was waiting to receive her medal for the 400 relay, the public address announcer summoned her to report to the starting line for the 400 and to the long jump pit. She was supposed to be in both places at once.

Schuylkill Valley’s senior bounced off the podium, ran down the runway for her jump, changed her spikes while the sand was still falling off her and raced a full lap alongside the best in the state.

“Do we have to clone this girl?” Schuylkill Valley coach Terry McKechnie thought to himself. “She was all in and we needed every point. She got stretched all around that day but she did great.”

Ziska placed third in the 200, seventh in the 400, fourth in the long jump and third in the 400 relay. Schuylkill Valley finished with 39 points and tied North Schuylkill for the team title. Without every drop of sweat Ziska poured onto the Seth Grove Stadium turf, the Panthers would have fallen short.

Even with the condensed schedule, no consideration was given to removing Ziska from one of the events. She embraced the challenge. She wanted it.

Ziska discovered track while serving as the team manager when she was about 11. Todd Reinert, SV’s jumps coach, is always on the lookout for up-and-coming talent. He noticed Ziska and asked her to try different events.

“He saw I was good for my age,” Ziska said. “He kept working with me. Made sure I stuck with it.”

Ziska burst onto the scene as a two-time district champion as a freshman. After her sophomore season was canceled by COVID, her junior season became a mission to finally capture a PIAA medal. She reached that goal four times.

As Ziska rounds the final turn of her high school career, only one dream remains. She wants to join the prestigious list of PIAA champions that have passed through Schuylkill Valley.

There’s a collection of banners on Schuylkill Valley’s gym wall recognizing the gold medal winners of the past. Ziska looked up at them when she was helping the basketball team finish 20-4 and win the Berks III division title. She imagined holding a spot next to Evan Arnott, Derek Gaul, Joe Jardine and the others.

“I definitely want my name up there,” Ziska said. “That’d be so cool. I have a chance. I just have to get it.”

McKechnie already places Ziska alongside the greatest girls track athletes from Schuylkill Valley. There’s Devan Coon, who has held the county record in the 200 for 15 years, Liz Staus, a 10-time state medalist, and Ziska.

Ziska’s place is unique because she also competes in the long jump and her contributions have translated to team success.

McKechnie, who is a co-coach with wife Allyson, said Ziska would take on a fifth event, the 1600 relay, if she was allowed.

“She’d be tired,” McKechnie said, “but she’d do it. She’s all about the team. She wants to help the team succeed, especially at that level at districts and states. She wants to do them all. In an individual sport, she’s a team person.”

Ziska was an All-Berks selection in golf and basketball. She has a chance to add track to that list this season. She’s going to compete at Mansfield next year.

Track is her thing. It’s what makes her the most nervous. It’s what she takes the most seriously.

“My name is out there,” she said. “I just feel like people expect more of me from this sport than other sports. I try to give that show to them.”

Ziska wears her PIAA medals with pride and recognizes the significance of those accomplishments. But she wants to keep pushing.

At the end of her wild day at states last May, she ran the 200 in 25.42. A personal best. She somehow still had energy left in her tank.

“I always want more from me,” Ziska said. “I’m never satisfied.”

That’s why Ziska wants a banner in the gym. It’s the piece that will complete her decorated career. Whether she gets it or not, she has already left her mark at Schuylkill Valley. Four PIAA medals in one day. Her place in history is secure.