Graduating senior, Maddie Lindgren, leaves her mark on Spartan soccer with an award.

One of the most prestigious honors an athlete can receive is not only having their name etched onto an award but having an award named after them.

At VTSU Castleton, few awards bear the names of former students, and those who have received such recognition have become legends within their sports programs. Most recently, Maddie Lindgren has joined this distinguished group.

Lindgren just completed her fourth season as a women’s soccer player, and as a graduation gift, her coach, Christopher Chapdelaine, has named an award in her honor. The Lindgren Award, given to the most supportive and uplifting teammate both on and off the pitch, reflects the character Lindgren exemplified throughout her four years at Castleton.

Having covered the team this season, spoken with players, and gotten to know her as a student, athlete, and friend, it comes as no surprise that she has once again gone above and beyond in her achievements.

In sports, statistics often dictate who the crowd perceives as the most valuable player.

However, athletes know success is built on much more than numbers. A team thrives when leaders create a culture of trust and support. Senior defender Lauren Fotter captured Lindgren’s impact perfectly, saying, “Maddie’s qualities as both a teammate and a friend are one and the same. She’s always there for anyone who needs her and is everybody’s biggest supporter. Her kindness is truly infectious, and when you meet her, it’s clear what a remarkable person she is.”

Rylee Peppin, Lindgren’s best friend and teammate of four years, echoed this sentiment.

“Maddie and I clicked right away—she makes everyone feel welcome and important. Watching her find her place on the team made us all proud. I think this award truly reflects her compassion, selflessness, and energy. To know Maddie is to love her.”

Underclassman Emma Kirby shared how Lindgren influenced younger players. 

“If anyone should have an award named after them, it’s Maddie. She pushed teammates to work their hardest, and if they were having a bad day, she was always there for them. The two years I played with her meant the world to me,” she said.

Sophomore Allie Galante, this year’s Lidgren Award recipient, added, “Coming in as a freshman, I looked up to Maddie because she was so energetic and uplifting. This year, I followed in her footsteps, supporting everyone on our team. That’s what makes this award so special.”

For Lindgren, receiving this honor was deeply meaningful.

“I was very honored to have an award named after me. Coming to Castleton to play soccer was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ll forever be thankful for my four years here, for the coaching staff who helped me grow, and for my best friends I had the privilege to play with,” she said.

A coach’s words carry weight, but when a player leaves a legacy so profound that their name becomes synonymous with leadership and camaraderie, the impact is undeniable. Chapdelaine spoke to just how much Lindgren has meant to the program. 

“Maddie is a tremendous human being! She is kind, caring, intelligent, a model teammate, hardworking, and driven. She embodies all the characteristics we look for in our players. We name awards after athletes whose impact reshapes our culture and elevates our standards, and Maddie has done just that,” he said.

The fact that an entire group of teammates feels Lindgren is their biggest supporter speaks volumes about her character. It is a rare feat to be so universally beloved, and this award is a fitting tribute to her lasting impact.