Mundelein junior Madalyn Gardner’s calling card is defense.
That part of the game has appealed to the 5-foot-5 guard for a long time.
“I’ll do anything to help the team, but defense just comes easy to me,” Madalyn Gardner said. “It flows with me. You either love it or hate it. You have to work hard on defense.”
Madalyn Gardner said she learned a lot from her older brother, Ronan, a Mundelein senior who has competed in various sports over the years.
“Ever since I was really young, I always looked up to him,” Madalyn Gardner said. “Whenever he wanted to do something, I wanted to do it. He taught me to have a good work ethic and be dedicated and always wanted me to keep going, even on days when you don’t feel like doing something.”
Ronan Gardner, who has been involved with Brazilian jiujitsu for almost six years, said he has tried to utilize his background in martial arts to help Madalyn in basketball.
“In Brazilian jiujitsu, the biggest rule is to remain calm and make contact accordingly,” he said. “In my sport, it’s flipping the person on their side. But in Maddy’s, it’s about stopping the ball and timing when you have to intervene while ensuring you stay calm in those high-stress situations.”
Ronan Gardner also noted that he tells Madalyn to be “relentless” during practices and games.
Mundelein girls basketball coach Sarah Teipel, who played at Western Illinois, said Madalyn Gardner fits the mold of a team-first player for her developing program. Madalyn Gardner led the Mustangs (15-17) in steals and deflections last season.
“She puts a lot of pressure on the ball,” Teipel said. “She’s scrappy and reads the ball well. She has a love and hunger for defense. When I talk to her about it, she gets excited about being the top defender and guarding the other team’s quick and athletic players. Even if she’s too aggressive at times, I like that she has the drive to do that every game.”
Madalyn Gardner has been a defense-first player for years, according to her mother, Erin.
“Defense has always been her talent,” Erin Gardner said. “She’s always the first to the floor and super aggressive, and her energy is contagious. It’s a joy to watch. She creates offense through her defense.”
Teipel said Madalyn Gardner’s impact can’t be judged solely by statistics. Madalyn Gardner started a handful of games last season but is slated to become a key player for the Mustangs.
“She’s our spark plug who brings energy on the court and tenacity,” Teipel said. “She has so many positives. She helps everyone when they are feeling down. She makes everyone around her better with her attitude and spark.
“She’s gotten more aggressive downhill on the offensive side and put in a lot of her own time in her game.”
Madalyn Gardner, known as “Mo,” said one of her main goals is to become an all-around player for the Mustangs in her final two seasons.
“I’ve gotten better with my shooting and scoring,” she said. “I was always a little nervous to score. We had two main scorers (last season), but now I have more confidence. My jump shot and driving have both gotten better. I also want to be a leader on my team for this upcoming season, so I have to be confident in myself and speak to my teammates.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
