Photography by Steve Buchanan
Madeline “Maddie” George has experienced plenty of nerve-racking moments in her 10-year lacrosse career. George, now a senior at Queen Anne’s County High, admits she was anxious heading into the Class 2A state championship game that the team won during her freshman year and then starting her first varsity game the following year in goal.
On top of that, she had to establish herself when she joined the elite Maryland United Lacrosse Club, which produces large numbers of college players. Tryouts and her first game with the club are what worried her.
“I didn’t know anybody,” George recalls.
None of those experiences compare to the recruiting process she experienced early during her junior year.
George, a goalie with superb quickness, instincts, communication skills, and athleticism, was open about picking a school, but Delaware and Princeton topped her list of favorites.
The recruiting process that started last year on September 1st—the very first-day college coaches are allowed to contract recruits—proved to be intense to say the least. George heard from about 40 schools on that day, including Delaware.
“I was recruited heavily,” George says. “And it was a very stressful process. I was totally stressed for the first few weeks. I had no idea what I wanted, but I was interested in a big school.”
George, a Centreville resident, ended up picking Delaware after visiting the school in Newark twice. She verbally committed to the school in early October. George ranks first in her class with a weighted 4.33 grade-point average. She has taken 10 advanced placement classes in high school and plans to major in nutrition at Delaware.
Delaware seems like the perfect fit for the 5-foot-9 George with all that the school has to offer. “I thought the campus was amazing,” George explains. “They have a new athletic center called the Whitney Athletic Center. The weight room is awesome, and they have a dining room just for the athletes. The academics are great, and they have the major I want.
“I also love the coach (Amy Altig) and the players,” she adds.
The Delaware coaching staff was likely impressed with the stellar career she put together at Queen Anne’s. For George, it was nothing but lacrosse—the only sport she played as an upperclassman. She also played varsity soccer in 2020 and 2021.
The 17-year-old George also suited up for Maryland United for five years. This spring will be her third year as a starter for her high school team.
“She is so excited for lacrosse season to come around,” Queen Anne’s Girls Lacrosse Coach Kesley Fitzgerald says. “She really cares about the Queen Anne’s program and is a great leader for us on the backend.”
George earned First-Team All-Bayside conference honors as both a sophomore and junior. She helped Queen Anne’s to the regional final in 2021 and the state semifinals the following year, as the team went 28-5 over those two seasons.
One of the best performances of her career (12 saves) came in the regional championship game, in a loss to C. Milton Wright. George probably has an advantage over other goalies since she is in tremendous shape, working out 1.5 hours daily in the offseason.
“She is a very active goalie,” Fitzgerald says. “She loves anticipating shots and passes. She is great at grabbing the ball on passes. Teams know that is one of her strengths.”
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