Maday Shattering Records; Looking to Break More

By Maria Freemire
Staff Writer
Posted 4/20/09

Senior, Sam Maday continually breaks school records he has previously set in past track and field seasons.  In his first year on the track team for UW-Superior, Maday broke the weight throw record.  In his second year on the team, Maday broke the hammer throw record.  He has broken several of his own previously set records since.

Maday hopes he can break more records on April 22 when the team goes down to St. Paul, MN and competes against Hamline College.  Before graduating in December, Maday hopes he can set his own record high enough so his name will be on the record books for a while.

Maday comes to UW-Superior from the town of Odanah, WI.  Coming from a big family, five brothers and a sister, Maday looks to his brothers for advice.  Maday originally came to UW-Superior to complete his generals and then to move on somewhere else.  Instead, he ended up staying at UW-Superior to compete in track and field. 

Maday sees himself as successful because of “Goals I’ve set and goals coaches have set for me,” stated Maday.  He attributes his success in large to his coaching staff.  “They have been a really understanding, great staff.  It’s fun to go to practice,” he said. “The coaches are understanding and flexible, that helps a lot.”

Maday’s major is in mass communications and he has two minors, photography and philosophy.  UW-Superior has been beneficial to Maday because of the small size, not only of the school but of the town as well.  “The size has helped.  There is a more sense of community with students and staff,” said Maday. 

Maday currently looks forward to spending his fall semester studying abroad in Scotland.  After graduation, Maday has kept his options open and is unsure of graduate school or a job in either newspaper or television.  In his immediate future, he wants to stick around Superior.

Maday has spent 9 years participating in Track and Field. Other sports he enjoys are football, volleyball and racquetball.  Overall, Maday has been involved in sports for 11 years.

Maday’s advice to younger athletes is to “Work hard and it will pay off in the end.  Never quit.  Finish what you start,” he said. 

Five years from now, Maday sees myself being a successful writer at a newspaper or a magazine, preferably for a sports magazine.  “My ideal is writing movies and books and being successful,” he said.  His overall goal at the upcoming conference meet is to be a part of the top 10 in the state.

Maday was chosen to be a member of the conference’s Larry Zirgibel All-Sportsmanship team.  This decision was voted on by all coaches throughout the conference.

His current record in the hammer throw is 43.93 meters.  Previously in a meet against Hamline, Maday’s marks were 30.88 meters in the discus, his best shot put throw at 12.27 meters, and the hammer throw at 39.76 meters.  With the steady numbers Maday continues to post, he should have a successful outdoor track season and the opportunity to cap off a memorable track career.  He has certainly made a name for himself already in the world of track and field at UWS.