Fairmont State University has gained another Bridgeport High School athlete. Tuesday, Madison “Maddie” Ward signed off on a future with the Fairmont State University Acrobatics & Tumbling Team. An early recruit, she will start training with the Flying Falcons in the fall of 2018 and compete with the team during its competition season, February through April 2019. The team, which had a very good 2017 season – one of its acro elements winning the national championship -  is coached by Bridgeport’s Kristi Kiefer.

 

Ward is happy about her decision, but admits it wasn’t an easy one.

 

“I was really back and forth on if I should do it because I was nervous,” she said. “Then I talked to Kristi and she’s the person who taught me to tumble so I felt really comfortable with her. I went and watched a practice and really just loved it. It seemed like a perfect for me so I had to put my nerves aside and do what I thought would be best for me in the long run.” 

 

Ward was part of the Indian cheer team her freshman year and half her sophomore year. She was also a three-year member of the Bridgeport Middle School cheer squad. She’s been tumbling since she was a preschooler.

 

“I started taking dance at the studio when I was just 3, but then I saw some of the older girls doing gymnastics and I decided I wanted to try that,” she said. “So, when I was 4, I started tumbling with Kristi. She became like a second mom to me, especially when I started doing competitive cheerleading when I was 6. That’s really when fell in love with tumbling.”

 

Ward has vivid memories of her early accomplishments, including the throwing of her first back handspring.

 

“Kristi kept telling me I didn’t need her, but I was way too scared to do it by myself. She knew I liked a good competition, though, so she brought my sister in and told us she was going to see who could o their back handspring by themselves,” Ward said. “Of course, right then, I did it by myself. without thinking twice.”

 

 Ward is excited to be part of the FSU family, pursue her education on the campus and once again, be under Kiefer’s coaching.

 

“Kristi has always been such a great coach. She’s so positive all the time and will never let you say you can’t do something,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to introduce me to something I’ve grown to love so much and I’m excited to work with her again. She knows my strengths and weaknesses, which is really important. Working with her again will be so incredible. I’m thrilled.”

 

Ward is a member of the BHS Drug-Free Club and involved in BHS Student Council. She believes FSU has a quality teaching program, one perfect for her aspirations to pursue pre-elementary education. She likes the mid-size campus and the fact that it is close to home.

 

The student athlete comes into the FSU Acrobatics & Tumbling Team during an eight-day signing program, Kiefer said.

 

“We have been recruiting her and she came to the campus Sunday and went through the whole recruiting process,” Kiefer said. “She’s definitely part of the team and will receive scholarship dollars for her participation.”

 

Also members of the team are Bridgeport High School alumna Madelyn Strait and Bridgeport’s Mara Boles, a graduate of Notre Dame High School. (Both Ward and Strait are pictured in the 2014 BHS cheer photo above.) 

 

Tuesday’s signing took place in the BHS library. Ward was accompanied by her parents, Sharon and Roger Ward.