WNBA's Maddy Siegrist returns to Poughkeepsie as Our Lady of Lourdes retires her jersey
Al Viani spoke to the crowd gathered in the Our Lady of Lourdes gymnasium, regaling them with his memories of Maddy Siegrist as a ninth-grader, and the coach mentioned how thin she used to be.
Then, as if on cue with comedic timing, Rebecca Townes blurted, “She sure was!”
Siegrist later took the microphone and joked that she weighed 90 pounds as a freshman.
She didn’t look the part then and, even Ginna Siegrist will admit, she wondered at the time if her daughter was ready to compete on the varsity basketball team.
As the cameras flashed almost constantly and Siegrist was tugged in every which direction Friday evening, indicative of the level of stardom she has reached, it was especially fulfilling for those who have known the Poughkeepsie native since childhood. They’ve witnessed her growth. In every sense.
“It’s incredible,” said Townes, a close friend and one of several former teammates who returned to the high school to celebrate Siegrist. “It’s one thing to see where she is now and admire that, but there’s even more appreciation from having watched her progress so much.”
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They watched from up close the strides that Siegrist made as a sophomore and how she began crafting an impeccable athletic resumé. They watched from a distance as she built a legendary career at Villanova University, shattering records while ushering that program into the national spotlight.
And they’ve watched as fans since last spring, when the 6-foot-2 forward was selected third overall in the WNBA draft. Through it all, the connection to home has never frayed. But they got to watch again from up close as the “skinny” kid from around the way received her proverbial flowers.
Siegrist was honored by Lourdes in a ceremony during which her No. 20 jersey was retired by the girls basketball program. The festive function and a reunion of sorts, as the gym was filled with family and friends, and fans eager to offer kudos in person.
“As a freshman, I thought I dreamed big, like imagining myself getting to 1,000 points, but nothing like this,” Siegrist said. “I’m so grateful and this is special lot to me. The ceremony, the turnout, all the love.”
“I’m not always here to see it, but knowing how much support there is for me here has always meant the world.”
Spattering the audience were several Siegrist jerseys and T-shirts — some representing Villanova and others in the cyan and green of the Dallas Wings. Thanks to Siegrist, athletic director Matthew Petruzzelli half-joked, the Lourdes student body has been converted into Wildcats fans.
“It’s so cool to have her back here, with everyone showing their support,” said Simone Pelish, who scored 25 points in Lourdes’ 71-14 win over Rondout Valley following the ceremony. The University of Miami-bound star hopes for a career path similar to Siegrist’s.
“A lot of people around the country know her from ESPN, but I’m lucky to have grown up watching her. Our families are close, and she’s been a role model for me since I was little.”
That sentiment was echoed by several others in attendance, including Viani, who called Siegrist a “top-shelf person.” Some said their excitement in rooting for her is attributed, in large part, to the humility and an affable demeanor.
“One of the coolest things is seeing how many of her old schoolmates came back to attend this,” Ginna Siegrist said. “They’re young adults with their own lives and careers. So, it’s a testament to the strength of those friendships.”
Siegrist was joined by her parents and three siblings on the court before the varsity game, and she unveiled a wooden frame encasing her Lourdes jersey and a placard listing some of her scholastic accomplishments, including the 1,818 points.
She’s been exceeding even her own expectations for a while now.
“I’ve seen kids come in who were better than her as freshmen, but they didn’t keep going,” Viani said. “She just kept getting better and better, and that continued through college.”
Siegrist last year led the NCAA at 29.2 points per game, breaking the Villanova and Big East career scoring records along the way. She also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, while leading the Wildcats to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2003.
Those accomplishments made her a coveted professional prospect.
Olivia Babb, a close friend and teammate since middle school, said Siegrist’s athleticism and skill were obvious in ninth grade. To be determined was what she would make of it and how far she could go. Those questions were answered — and she twice was named the Journal’s Player of the Year — while the bar continually was raised.
It helped, of course, that Siegrist grew an additional four inches while in high school, refined her post game and developed a perimeter shot. The “90 pounds” was a playful exaggeration, Siegrist said. “But it wasn’t that far off. I was about 110 (pounds) at that height, so I needed time to grow into it and get stronger.”
But the real source of her progress, loved ones said, is her persistence. She hated not being the best to perform a drill in practice; hated not winning at dodgeball in gym class.
“We went to Disney World for our senior trip,” Babb said, “and she asked if we wanted to wake up extra early and go on a basketball run before we hit the parks.”
Caroline Siegrist said that more than once, she woke up on Christmas morning with her older sister making a similar suggestion.
“I think what she’s done and the way she’s done it is an inspiration to a lot of people,” George Siegrist III said of his older sister. “Of course, she’s talented, but her competitiveness and love of the game took her to another level.”
Spreading her wings
Much like it was a decade ago, Siegrist again is a fledgling seeking to prove not only that she belongs, but that she can excel in the WNBA.
She played in 39 games last season and was efficient offensively as a rookie, shooting 50.9% from the field and 93% at the line, and helping the Wings make the playoffs. But she averaged only eight minutes per game, limited in part because of established players at her position.
“It’s a veteran-heavy team and we were successful, so I understand,” she said. “It was about learning from them and continuing to get better. I’m gonna do whatever I can to help in however much time I’m on the court.”
The mindset now is also the same: Patience, in understanding the circumstances, and eagerness to unlock her potential with a steadfast belief that her diligence will win.
“You want to be lean and strong,” the 23-year-old said. “Stepping up from college, the league is bigger, stronger and faster, so you have to adjust to that and strive to get better constantly.”
In addition to basketball-centric workouts six days a week, her routine as a professional now includes yoga and Pilates. She also is working through the winter as a special assistant at Villanova, helping coach basketball and aiding in player development. So, seldom is she at all removed from the sport.
“She’s the most dedicated person I know,” Caroline said. “From our perspective, we know how much effort has gone into this and it’s so amazing to see the work rewarded with her success and an event like this.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Siegrist honored at home as Lourdes retires basketball star's jersey
