Paul VI rising senior Jordan Mader scoops up a ground ball and records an out for Olympic Colonial in the Carpenter Cup Softball Tournament in South Philadelphia. (Mark Zimmaro)
Jordan Mader isn’t only following in great footsteps, she’s also leaving a trail of her own.
The Paul VI High School rising senior is not only a star softball player and avid surfer, she has a passion for teaching, too.
“I really like English as a subject,” said Mader, a Cinnaminson resident. “It’s my favorite, and I think it would be really cool to teach it to others. I love interacting with people, and when my aunt has softball camps, I help teach the kids softball.”
Mader has learned from one of the best when it comes to softball, studying under her Camden County Sports Hall of Fame aunt, Dawn Mader. Dawn Mader has coached at Paul VI in Haddonfield since 2013, after initially coaching a four-year span there from 1999 to 2002.
She also coached her niece and many others through South Jersey Gators, a youth softball club. Jordan Mader attained her love of the sport at age 4, watching the older players, and later started swinging a bat for her aunt at age 10. The two have been inseparable ever since.
“She’s the only coach I’ve ever had in my whole life,” the high-schooler said with a smile. “It’s really nice. She’s tough on me, but that’s why I am where I am.”
That perseverance led them to the Carpenter Cup Tournament in South Philadelphia in mid-June as a combined team of all-stars from the Olympic and Colonial Conferences in South Jersey went to bat against 15 other collaborations from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
The Maders and Olympic Colonial ended up going 2-2 after advancing to the elimination round of the prestigious annual tournament. Jordan Mader played second base. Her aunt was the head coach.
“It’s really fun getting to play with all the girls that I normally play against and actually getting to know them and see how talented they are,” Jordan Mader said.
She was joined by fellow Paul VI rising senior Alexa Lee, who shifted from first base to shortstop during the tournament and was always nearby for an encouraging high-five. The Eagles were also represented by rising sophomore Madison Cooley, who pitched seven and a third strong innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out eight over the four games.
The Eagles’ success in the Carpenter Cup was a little carryover as Paul VI won nine of its final 14 games after an 0-3 start to the season. Mader batted .413 on the season, scoring 14 runs and driving in a dozen more. She brought her batting skills to the Carpenter Cup, going 5-for-9 (.556) with two walks, while knocking in three runs.
“She brings a lot of leadership to the team,” coach Mader said. “She’s an All-South Jersey player and a great defensive player. I’m happy we have one more year together.”
The coach guided her first two nieces, Breck and Dallas Urban, through Paul VI and watched both collect more than 100 career hits. Both are now at Jefferson University in Philadelphia and thriving as collegiate athletes.
Dawn Mader said she enjoyed the challenge of coaching all three nieces. “Softball is my life,” she said. “It’s never been any special challenge to have them on the team. My goal has been made. I’ve taken them from [age 5] to their senior year of high school.”
Meanwhile, when Jordan Mader is not playing softball, she’s riding a surfboard in Brigantine. She learned to surf from her brother Joe, and even started giving surfing lessons to her friends.
Up next: Looking to win a championship with her aunt next year. There was a learning curve after her sophomore season was canceled due to the pandemic, which led to a slower start this year with a young team. She hopes next year will be even stronger.
“It started out a little rough; we didn’t know each other very well,” she said. “But as the season went on, we got a lot of wins and came together at the end. I’m excited for my senior year.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
