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Madelyn Witt
Senior forward Madelynn Witt delivered one of the most clutch postseason performances in Palmyra Field Hockey history. In the State Championship game, Witt scored twice — including the game-winning goal with just four minutes remaining — to lift the Cougars past Warwick, 3–2, and secure the program’s fourth State title. Her heroics came just days after she scored the lone goal in Palmyra’s 1–0 Semifinal win over Mount Saint Joseph. Her performance not only earned her State Gold, but also LebCo Athlete of the Week honors.
Though she finished the year with 7 goals and 5 assists, Witt’s biggest moments came when the lights were brightest. Her postseason heroics echoed the clutch play of athletes like Robert Horry and Reggie Jackson, known for rising to the biggest moments.
Witt’s late-season surge impressed everyone around the program, including Head Coach Kent Harshman, who said: “Maddy is a gamer and stepped up in a huge way for us in postseason! She played the best hockey of her career in the last week of her career, and it was very gratifying to see.”
When asked about her recent performances, Witt spoke with the same calm confidence she showed on the field. “I scored the only goal in the state semifinal game, and then scored two in the state championship game,” she said — a modest description of a career-defining week.
Her personal goals entering the season centered on belief and team success. “My goals were to have confidence in myself as a player and to help my team make it to the state championship game,” Witt explained.
The senior leader also emphasized Palmyra’s identity as a unified group: “Our team is always heavy on working as a unit and not individually, and I feel like I’ve contributed to that overall team mentality.”
A multi-sport athlete, Witt also participates in dance, unified bocce, and track and field. She will continue her academic and athletic career at Queen’s University of Charlotte, planning to major in marketing and eventually pursue fashion marketing. Away from athletics, Witt enjoys painting — and shared a fun detail: “I had a horse when I was young and showed competitively.”
For Witt, the joy of sports goes far beyond goals and statistics. “The thrill that it brings after a good practice or a good game and being able to spend so much time with your best friends,” she said.
It’s here that Harshman’s praise for Witt’s leadership rings especially true: “Maddy was a great leader for our underclassmen this year and served as a source of encouragement for their development, growth, and confidence.”
Congratulations to Madelynn on her exceptional postseason run and her selection as LebCo Athlete of the Week. And congratulations to her teammates and the entire Palmyra Field Hockey program on accomplishing their mission of winning the program’s fourth State Championship.
Photo Credit (top) Garrett Kohr/ Photos provided by Palmyra Field Hockey
Past Female LebCo Athletes of the Week
Maddie Stahl (Week ending 11/9)
AJ Walker (Week ending 11/2)
Bryn Brandt (Week ending 10/26)
Makenzie Wamsher (Week ending 10/19)
Jovie Weaver (Week ending 10/12)
McKenna Kantner (Week ending 10/5)
Claire Jacoby (Week ending 9/28)
Laney Zimmerman (Week ending 9/21)
Savannah Kleinfelter (Week ending 9/14)
Shea Moyer (Week ending 9/7)
Chloe Shirk (Week ending 8/31)
Leigha Kane (Week ending 8/24)
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