Before freshman Maddie Simkins even got into high school, people have already heard her name. It’s because she’s the younger sister to senior Kacie Simkins and Niles West alumni Jessie Simkins. Both older sisters were athletes, and naturally, Maddie decided to follow in their footsteps and join sports for all three seasons like her older sisters; that’s a lot for a freshman to handle! Nevertheless, Simkins wanted to make a name for herself her own way.

“I felt like I wanted to follow both of them in by being a three sport athlete all four years and getting into good colleges. But also, I want to be known as my own person. Not just ‘one of those Simkins girls'” Simkins says.

Sophomore Dylan Fleites and fellow friend of Simkins had nothing but nice things to say about this freshmeat.

“She works hard at what she does and always has a positive attitude towards everything and never let’s someone down.”

Although Simkins has an awesome legacy to withstand, it didn’t come easy walking into the halls of the wolves; every freshman gets the jitters for their first year, but Simkins realized that incoming freshman shouldn’t have to feel that way.

“Before I came to west, I was a little nervous, but once I got here it was very easy to get used to. I had a few upper class friends so that made it easier too. I feel like I should have never been nervous. I love high school. The sports are more competitive and I made a lot of new friends,” she said.

However, there’s always a challenge to deal with, and more so, a life lesson Simkins tells.

“The hardest thing to get used to was the teachers. Sometimes you don’t have the best teachers, but you just have to deal with them!”

Right now, Simkins is taking high school one step at a time, but as of right now, her plans for the future are to become a P.E. teacher.