.png)
Premier Alumni Spotlight: Madi Cowan Is Making Waves At Canisius University. From Northwest Ohio to the MAAC — a Premier Academy Class of 2025 alum is just getting started.
- Chad Rutkowski
- May 20
- 2 min read
When a local newspaper takes notice of one of our own, we take notice too. The Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune recently featured Premier Academy alum Madi Cowan in a story highlighting how she is thriving in her first year of college volleyball at Canisius University in Buffalo, New York. You can read the full article here: Bowling Green's Madi Cowan Thriving at Canisius – Sentinel-Tribune
It’s the kind of coverage that makes the entire Premier community proud — and it inspired us to share Madi’s story with our own community, because her journey is exactly what Premier Academy is all about.
A Standout Before She Ever Stepped on a College Court
Madi arrived at Canisius having already built a remarkable résumé. A four-year letterwinner at Bowling Green High School, she earned two-time First Team All-League honors (2023 and 2024), two-time First Team All-District recognition (2023 and 2024), and was named Player of the Year in District 7 Division III in 2024. She left Bowling Green High School as the school’s all-time leader in kills (1,170) and also totaled 1,221 career digs — records that speak to both her offensive firepower and her defensive versatility as an Outside Hitter/Libero.
Through it all, Premier Academy was part of her development journey.
A Historic Freshman Season
Madi wasted no time making her mark at the Division I level. As a true freshman for the Canisius Golden Griffins in the 2025 season, she started all 31 matches, ranked second on the team in total kills (284), and led the team with 2.56 kills per set — placing her among the top freshman kill performances in program history. She recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches throughout the season, including an extraordinary 20-kill performance against UAlbany on September 6 — the most kills by a Canisius freshman in a single match since 2017.
Her remarkable consistency through conference play earned her MAAC Rookie of the Week honors, and she capped her freshman year by being named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team — a testament to her hard work, preparation, and competitive drive.
A Family Steeped in Athletics
Madi comes from a family that knows what it takes to compete at a high level. Her father, Kirk, played basketball at Bowling Green State University before going on to play professionally in Australia with the Knox Raiders. That competitive DNA, combined with the training she put in right here in Maumee, helped shape the player she is today.
What This Means for the Premier Community
Stories like Madi’s are exactly why we do what we do. Premier Academy proudly celebrates the hundreds of players who have committed to college volleyball through our program — and we are ranked fifth in the USA for the number of athletes sent to the collegiate ranks. Watching our alumni thrive — setting records, earning all-conference honors, and representing our region on a national stage — is the fulfillment of our core mission: Teaching Excellence, Inspiring Greatness.
Madi Cowan is a shining example of what is possible when talent meets preparation, and we couldn’t be more proud to call her one of our own.
Congratulations, Madi. We’re cheering for you every step of the way. 🏐
Comments