Source: The Tennesseean    Author: Joe Spears

Maddie Padelski may only be a 15-year-old-sophomore at Nolensville, but she has lofty goals.

Her biggest goal: make the United States Women's National Team.

Padelski knows that she has a long way to go before a goal like that could be accomplished, but she's willing to put the work in both during and after the soccer season.

Last summer, Padelski showed that dedication as she went to ECNL national playoffs with her club team before receiving invites to the ECNL National Training Camp and a camp at Florida State where she was able to compete with some of the best players of the country.

As she's entered the latter stages of her second high school season, Padelski will be the first to admit that those experiences over the summer helped make her an even better player.

"It was an eye-opening experience because no one knows you there so you have to make a name for yourself," Padelski said. "I just thought it was fun going in that environment and seeing what I can improve on, how much better I can get and how good everyone else was."

As a freshman, Padelski became one of the best goal scorers in the state, leading the Lady Knights with 31 goals and seven assists in their run to the state tournament.

Through the first 11 games of this season, Padelski's on pace to beat those numbers. She has a team-high 21 goals to go along with five assists.

As good as she was last season, Padelski and Nolensville coach Eric Shelton both noticed that her fitness levels weren't as high then as they are now. Knowing that she would have to go against better players, Padelski dedicated the spring into working on that and had has continued that throughout the season.

"She's so hungry to reach the highest level," Shelton said. "With her competitivness and her drive, when she gets around players like that and sees what it takes to get to that next level, she sets the bar even higher. She wants to make the national team so she understands the amount of commitment and sacrifice that it takes to play at that level.

"Her physical fitness compared to last year is off the charts. She conditions in the morning before school, comes and practices after school and then sometimes picks up on the weekend with her select team so it's a nonstop thing for her."

It'll be a while before Padelski can reach her biggest goals, but this last summer was a big step in that direction.

Padelski isn't sure what next summer holds, but she has high expectations after what happened last summer. She said she'll worry about that once the high school season ends.

"This season has been so much," Padelski said. "Everyone looks at us as tough competition now, which is so much harder but I wouldn't want it any other way. Last year really gave us the confidence we needed to carry over into this season and be successful."

Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @joe_spears7.