Gavin Madigan, a junior and an athlete of Wadsworth High School, has committed to Army West Point for football.

Madigan has been a part of the Wadsworth football program for three years. He has played varsity since he was a freshman, and he plays both safety and running back for the team. Madigan has committed to Army West Point as a running back and rather than a two-way player.

“I really like the military aspect of the school and the style of pay is awesome too, and the balance of athletic and sports is great,” Madigan said. 

Madigan wants to pursue a career in engineering, in which Army West Point is known for having a respectable engineering program. Madigan’s goal is to ultimately give his future family the same opportunities he has received throughout both his childhood and athletic career. 

“I’ve always been extremely grateful for the opportunities I have had, and I kind of want to pay that back. I want my kids to have the same opportunities as I have had,” Madigan said. 

Justin Todd is head coach of the Wadsworth Grizzlies Football team and has coached Madigan in his three years at Wadsworth High. Todd’s goal as a coach is to set these men up for life after high school and what it is like after graduation. 

“The words that are used to describe our program are effort, attitude, and toughness. We used these words because it doesn’t take talent to do these things,” Todd said. 

Todd has coached many athletes before, but the things he sees from Madigan are much different than what you see in your average athlete. 

“The thing that sets Gavin apart from most athletes is his football IQ and how he can diagnose things and understand the game on another level that I’ve never coached a kid,” Todd said. 

Madigan will be a senior this upcoming school year, and his final goals before he leaves Wadsworth football are to win the Suburban League for a third time in a row. Very few, if any, teams have accomplished this feat, which would make it special for both the program and the school.