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Madison Mergl lived her life like the position she played in high school on Sayville’s volleyball team — setter.
“Maddy would help make people’s wrong a right, with a challenge, a smile, a joke, or even just a Maddy expression,” Sayville volleyball coach Deb Urso said this week during a special tribute to Madison, a 2019 Sayville High School graduate who died in a car accident March 13, 2020.
“She helped them right their wrong by inspiring them to work hard along with her. Each person she touched, she would make them determined to be better,” Urso added.
One year after Madison’s passing, Sayville retired her volleyball number 1 to honor her life and the legacy she’s left behind. Held prior to Sayville’s home contest with Hauppauge on Monday, March 8, the ceremony was live-streamed to hundreds of people, locally and across the country.
“She touched the lives of so many,” Urso said. “For those of you that don’t know Maddy, I am hoping to give you just a glimpse of who she was, and how much she has done for so many.”
During her moving testimonial, Urso’s voice trembled and her eyes welled up with ears. She spoke of Madison’s leadership qualities, her athleticism and of how she spent so much of her youth on volleyball courts and lacrosse fields.
Madison eventually chose to play lacrosse in college — at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina. Madison’s mom and dad, Joanie and Dave; her brother and sister, Lucas and Kayla; and her grandparents, Joan and Frank Mergl, all attended the ceremony, intentionally held on International Women’s Day.
Sayville girls lacrosse coach Adam Sznitken was also at the event, along with his four team captains.
“I can still see her on the court after dumping the ball to four or setting up a hitter for an amazing kill, rocking her hands in a swaying, cheering ‘I got you’ motion,” Urso said. “You would maybe get a wink, but definitely a proud look as she looked over her shoulder at you. I love that girl.”
Urso struggled to finish her moving tribute to Madison.
“Maddy embodied everything a coach could ever want in an athlete. She has changed the face of Sayville volleyball,” Urso said. “Many of these girls are here on this court because of her.”
At the school district‘s annual athletic awards ceremony in 2019, Madison received The Marinus Buyes Award, the highest honor given to the most outstanding athlete of the senior class (male or female).
Madison Mergl My Captain Award
To further honor Madison, the high school has established The Madison Mergl My Captain Award, which will be given to an outstanding female athlete who displays the leadership and dedication qualities Madison expressed. Additionally, Madison’s family is establishing a My Captain Scholarship in her name.
Maddison’s parents are also helping to create a safe-student outlet, ride-share program at the University of Mount Olive.
“Her jersey will be displayed in this gym, so every time people enter, they can look up and remember her beauty, her kindness, her passion, her humor, her determination, her strength and her grit,” Urso said, fighting back tears.
“We are all blessed to know Maddy, and now so will everyone else. In years to come, young girls and boys who may not have had the honor of knowing her or playing with her can see this and be inspired,” Urso continued. “Her legacy will live on in all of us. No one will ever wear this number again. No matter where I go, she will forever be our number one, forever our captain.”
The photos below are courtesy of Sue Knappe, via Sayville Schools.
