Lang's impact extends off court at Barrington
Sure, the climate in Boca Raton is going to be a big draw when Florida Atlantic recruits its future Division I athletes.
"But what really sold me to the program was the girls," said Barrington senior Madison Lang, who will sign a letter of intent in November to play for the Owls women's volleyball team. "They were all so dedicated, so nice and they wanted to win so bad."
And if you talk to her high school coach Chris Bronke, you realize how important people and teammates are to Lang.
"She is one of a handful of kids who helped form HERE (an organization dedicated to helping the community deal with mental health issues)," he said. "Madison didn't help form this group because she needed a resume builder. She did it because she cares about her fellow classmates and the members of this community."
Lang began playing volleyball in the seventh grade.
Her father Mike's best friend's daughter (Hilary Sexton, who played for the Sky High Club and Prairie Ridge High School) was a volleyball player for Penn State.
"So that just got me interested in it," said Madison, who joined the same Sky High Club.
When she got to Barrington, Lang played on the junior varsity team as a freshman.
"It has been a joy and honor to watch Madison grow over the last five or six years," said Bronke, who knew Lang from summer camps before high school. "We took a chance on a tall, uncoordinated player as a freshman by putting her up on JV and varsity that year, and honestly we have never, ever second-guessed that decision. Not even for a second."
And Lang became second to none as a leader for the Barrington varsity.
"Madison has done nothing but work tirelessly to become a graceful, passionate, and confident senior leader," Bronke said. "She defines the concept of student of the game. Honestly, I would be shocked if she doesn't end up coaching some day as she understands the game from all positions so well due to her hard work."
Lang plans to major in international business and then go on to law school. She also likes biology. She is a top-notch student (scored 30 on her ACT and has a 4.1 grade point average) who is very active in a variety of clubs and organizations at the high school.
"However, one of the things that gives me the most joy is watching Madison interact with her 'little' sister (6-foot-1 Peyton, also on the varsity)," Bronke said. "It is very clear that being a good big sister is one of, if not the most important thing in Madison's life.
"Seeing how much she cares about and loves working with her sister both on and off the court is very special and something that Madison should and does take much pride in."
Madison and Peyton's father is hardly a stranger to prep sports.
Mike was an all-state basketball player for Benet High School and then captained Penn State's basketball team.
As a sophomore, Madison attended a Penn State volleyball camp.
She got to know former Nittany Lion All-American volleyball standout Alisha Glass, who was a camp leader.
"She has always been my idol since I started watching Penn State volleyball on TV," Madison said. "And then when I met her, she was the coolest person."
Like Glass, Lang has also been a setter-rightside hitter for most of her career.
This fall, Bronke is also using Lang as an outside hitter.
"I love hitting, too," she said "You get to score points with kills. But when you are setting, you are in control of the whole court.
"I've set my whole career. When I got to Sky High, they just said 'you're a setter.'"
The current Florida Atlantic starting setter is a senior and Lang said she was told she could come in as a freshman next fall and run a 5-1 offense.
"Overall, Madison is the kind of kid I hope I never lose contact with because I know that I am a better person today because of having had the privilege to work with her for four years," Bronke said. "To say that I am dreading Senior Night this year would be an understatement."