It would be more than fair to say Madison Parsons is anxious to make her debut for the Chico State women’s soccer team. As a true freshman, surgery on her left knee put the kibosh on the 2018 season, and an injury during the team’s first spring match knocked Parsons out for the entire 2019 campaign. The COVID-19 pandemic is just the latest obstacle in keeping her from representing the ’Cats on the pitch. That would be more than enough to dash anyone’s hopes of ever getting to see action, but Parsons’ passion for the game, the support of her family, coaches, and teammates, and a little motherly advice (“Just choose to be happy”) not only makes the sophomore forward optimistic for what the future holds, it makes her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
“I say all the time the Soccer Gods, for whatever reason, do not want me to play soccer,” Parsons said. “It’s really easy to get mad or upset when things aren’t going your way. But the injuries have only made me stronger, and made me more aware of my body. It proves to me that I will get through it.”
Parsons came to Chico State with a left knee injury suffered while playing at Ponderosa High School in her hometown of Shingle Springs.
“It hurt to get out of the car or go up the stairs,” Parsons recalled. “I came in with the injury nervous that I had to work extra hard to prove myself. It was scary and nerve-racking.” The result was cartilage replacement surgery, and a seat on the sidelines in 2018.
Parsons worked hard to rehab the knee and finally made it back on the field when misfortune struck again in the early months of 2019—this time involving her right knee.
“It was the first spring game in San Francisco,” Parsons said. “There was two minutes left in the match, I got the ball and turned too quickly. My foot stayed planted, and I ended up dislocating my right kneecap.”
More surgery meant missing Chico State’s entire 2019 season, and though she remained a member of the team, the chance to compete for the Wildcats was slowly slipping away.
Parsons wasn’t about to give up. While slowly getting healthy and working her way back into playing shape, she received an abundance of support and encouragement to help keep her spirits up.
“My parents have always been super supportive of my soccer career,” Parsons said. “I lean a lot on my teammates and coaches. They’re the ones who remind me to take my time and not to push it.”
Parsons is convinced that growing up in a family with eight brothers and sisters has helped her develop an inner strength and a solid work ethic.
“You have to be self-motivated,” Parsons said. “Being part of a big family, you learn early that you don’t have things handed to you. You have to go get it yourself.”
Parsons is particularly grateful to Wildcats head coach Kim Sutton for her unwavering encouragement during the tough times.
“Coach Sutton has been so supportive through all my injuries,” Parsons said. “Whatever it is she sees in me, I appreciate it so much.”
A longtime back injury flared up last spring, putting Parsons even farther behind in her rehab efforts. But through hard work and dedication, she got herself ready to take on the 2020 season.
Those plans were short-circuited by the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) fall soccer season was officially suspended in May.
“Oh my goodness, it was really hard to hear that the season was suspended,” Parsons said. “I was really anxious for the chance to finally play.”
Instead of getting depressed by this latest setback, Parsons has been making the most of the unexpected down time. She uses her time management skills to keep up with her virtual classes, while also working part-time. Now that local gyms have opened up, Parsons has been working out regularly at In Motion Fitness.
“Coach Sutton told us to put together a workout schedule for ourselves,” Parson said. “I’m also following the strength program that (Chico State strength and conditioning coach) Colin Coughenour laid out for us.”
Parsons has kept in contact with her teammates and coaches through weekly Zoom meetings, and is part of the women’s soccer team’s “Wildcat Packs,” where five to six players meet regularly as a group to stay connected.
“I try to reach out to the new freshmen,” Parsons said. “It’s hard on them because they’re not experiencing a normal school year. I want them to know they are welcome and part of the team, and that the upperclassmen are always available to them.”
Still, Parsons isn’t shy about mentioning what she misses about what was once a normal college life.
“I miss the structure, seeing my teammates every day, practicing…even icing my knee in the training room,” Parsons said. “You don’t realize the things you miss until they’re not part of your everyday routine.”
Whether some type of a women’s soccer season can be salvaged in 2021 is still up in the air, but Parsons remains upbeat.
“I’m trying to say optimistic,” Parsons said. “Even if it was an intersquad game or just practicing, that would be great.
“I try to be realistic with myself, though. I think it’s important to remember everything happens for a reason, and we’ll get through this.”
Parsons encourages all student-athletes in the Wildcat Family to keep positive, and consider the advice her mother Amber passed on to her years ago: “Just choose to be happy.”
“Focus on things that you can control,” Parsons said. “Whether we get to play games or tournaments next semester, it’s out of our hands. So in the meantime, keep your grades up, stay healthy, and reach out to your friends and teammates.”
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