Madgen leaps at teacher role
TOWNSVILLE Fire star Tess Madgen says the chance to embrace her interests outside basketball has helped her discover her best form for the WNBL powerhouse.
Madgen is studying to be a teacher and has recently taken a role at Kirwan State High in the basketball program.
The Australian Opals guard was a guest speaker at Kirwan’s sports awards and made such an impression she was offered a job in the PE department.
Madgen still has two years of her teaching degree but jumped at the chance for a coaching role with the basketball program as she also plans for her post- playing career.
“I love working there – the kids are great and the PE staff are awesome,” Madgen said.
“I get to take one PE class a week as well and the teacher gave me really good feedback so it’s awesome to be able to practise teaching while still in a basketball environment.
“I’m teaching them skills and just trying to be a positive role model and someone they can look up to and see where they can get to if they put in the hard work.”
Kirwan has a strong reputation in rugby league, having won the national schoolboys title in 2015, and is making big strides in basketball with a new state- of- the- art playing facility.
Kirwan head of sport Dave Ackers said Madgen had been an excellent addition.
“She’s fitting in really well with the staff and the students. You’d think she’d been here for years,” he said.
“We’ve got reputations around other sports with numerous state titles, but basketball is one that we’re definitely trying to increase participation and also the standard of our program.
“Now with state- of- the- art million- dollar facilities and a national rep coaching as well, we’re looking forward to the future.”
Madgen has been in top form after posting a careerhigh 14 assists in last weekend’s win over Bendigo, which also earned her the WNBL’s player of the week honours.
She will be back in action for the Fire against Bendigo at Townsville Stadium tonight and said her new role had been the perfect way to keep her mentally fresh for game day.
“I’m still studying as well and I really like to not just put all my eggs into basketball. It makes me play a lot better and it keeps me mentally fresh,” Madgen said. “At practice I’m not always thinking about basketball so I’m super appreciative of Kirwan High, especially Dave Ackers, to put me in that role.
“They’re coming to the game ( tonight) so it’s just really good to have something outside of basketball and a little family outside of that.”