Digging Deep with Christopher Madden
Junior goalkeeper Christopher Madden of men's soccer is a three-year letter winner for the Tartans with 21 career starts. In his first full season as a starter in net, he helped the Tartans to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament with a record of 13-4-1. Find out a little more interesting information about the Business Administration major.
Why did you choose to attend Carnegie Mellon University?
Carnegie Mellon provided me with the opportunity to challenge myself across multiple dimensions, particularly academics and soccer. Unlike competing schools, Carnegie Mellon offered the prospect of attending a top-tier business school. Additionally, the school would provide the opportunity for me to engage in a multi-disciplinary program and allow me to learn from world-class professors. From an athletic perspective, the school afforded me the opportunity to continue my soccer career with an upper-level Division III soccer program.
What do you plan to do following graduation?
After graduation, I intend on pursuing career opportunities in the consumer products industry. I am interested in the market research, product development, and strategy sectors of business. After developing my trade through constant business exposure and application, I plan on pursuing an MBA at a university with a culture comparable to Carnegie Mellon.
What is your favorite place or thing to do on campus?
My new favorite activity to do on campus is playing racquetball. I really enjoyed this activity when our assistant coach organized a small competition this spring. I also enjoy going to the movie nights in the University Center on the weekends with friends.
What are your goals for your team?
In a relatively short conference schedule, the expectation is to win. If your goal is not to win every year, you are effectively selling your team's talents and potential short of the ultimate pinnacle. There is little turnover from our successful campaign last season as the core pieces are intact. We are bringing back a few fifth-year players which will give us more experience and chemistry on our team, particularly with regard to our defensive corps. To fill the holes in our lineup, a couple players will have to take a few steps, but they are more than capable of competing at the next level. It's going to be a sprint and a difficult road to the finish line since we are playing more games away from home, amongst other factors. However, our goal is to accumulate as many points as possible in the early stages of competition for the purpose of winning our conference and putting together a solid NCAA Tournament run.
Our coaching staff has been very patient in developing players and stockpiling talent over the last few seasons. In the long-term, I believe this team's goal is to grow its players internally and achieve results down the road. Instead of going through rebuilds in a cyclical process, this team's goal is to constantly reload its roster with key pieces so it may be a legitimate contender on a yearly basis.
As a team, what types of things do you do together away from the field/court?
Our team has made significant strides in promoting team chemistry and unity over the last year and a half. Before games, a number of us go to Noodles & Co. for either a pregame meal or dinner. Additionally, our coaching staff has developed a spring challenge program encouraging collaboration in a number of non-soccer related activities, such as badminton, swimming, and racquetball. I also tutor a large part of our team's freshmen and sophomores during Academic Development's walk-in tutoring nights. Finally, for the upcoming season, we plan on extending our mentorship program, with regard to more activities between our incoming freshmen and upperclassman in a process of eradicating vertical and social barriers.
What do you think sets Carnegie Mellon apart from peer institutions?
Carnegie Mellon is different from other academic institutions because of its focus on research and innovation. The university is committed to giving students every opportunity to succeed in this area through research grants, faculty advisors, leadership development programs, and university equipment. Additionally, the school boasts a strong academic portfolio of diverse programs for students who have multiple interests. Finally, there is a distinct culture of hard-work, dedication, and perseverance at Carnegie Mellon which is absent in the majority of similar institutions.
If you could choose another sport to play, what would it be, and why?
If I were to participate in another sport at a high-level, my choice would be hockey. In terms of a big picture view, hockey is an intelligent sport because it is built around strategy. The concept of line matching is fundamental to success, and with the imposed salary cap regulation, there is an emphasis on building high caliber teams through the draft, as well as through player development. Most importantly, there is a high value on all types of player archetypes, whether they are skilled players, checking forwards, or enforcers in the salary cap age. Hockey players are highly detailed-oriented individuals and focus on making sure the little aspects of the game are completed correctly. From my perspective, the level of passion and sacrifice they display on a nightly basis throughout a grinding 82 game schedule is extremely admirable.
What is your most memorable moment here at Carnegie Mellon?
My most memorable moment was when our team beat Stevens Institute in our home tournament last season. We were coming off a disappointing season and our opposition was one of the model teams in Division III soccer - in terms of NCAA Tournament results. They were nationally ranked and we were able to pull out a 1-0 victory in a critical upset. From a team perspective, the victory was critical as it demonstrated our ability to perform against the upper-echelon teams in our division. The game provided the confidence necessary for our team to compete for a UAA title and postseason competition.
Who has had the most influence on your life?
My parents have had the most influence on shaping my life. My father has battled through illness, as well as rehabilitation, and as a result, has showcased the traits of perseverance, dedication, and class for me. Without his approach and behavior towards life I would not have had the character necessary to reach my current academic and athletic standing. My mother has essentially sacrificed all her time and energy into developing my soccer skill-set. She has consistently challenged me to reach new athletic and academic heights, and has always believed in my ability and character.
How do you feel about the student-athlete community and support at Carnegie Mellon?
The student-athlete community is very supportive of each other during home competitions. The community easily makes up a significant percentage of student body viewers. In general, the professors are very supportive of the athletic teams. Additionally, our coaching staffs views the professional and character development of its players as a key priority and responsibility.