GRANGER TWP. — The premier girls golf program in Medina County has produced another Division I talent, as Highland standout Madison Butler verbally committed to Cleveland State on Tuesday.
Madison Butler
The junior joins Jessica Porvasnik (Ohio State), Stephanie Horvath (Cincinnati), Lauren McKinzie (Ohio), Jessica McRae (Ohio) and Chloe McKinzie (Ohio) as Hornets to earn D-I scholarships in the last five years.
“I just really loved the campus, and the team was great and the coach (Ann Ciavarella) is awesome,” Butler said. “She is amazing. She is so nice. I loved everything about it.
“It seemed like the girls got along with her very well, and she played college golf herself at Youngstown State, so she understands what golfers deal with.”
Butler, the reigning Gazette MVP who has been playing for fewer than seven years, picked the Vikings over Youngstown State, Findlay and Ashland.
The Hinckley Township resident will receive a scholarship that covers full tuition and books — a rarity in college golf — due in part to a 3.98 grade-point average.
“I’m just really honored that they would choose me,” Butler said.
A 5-foot-6 right-hander, Butler was Suburban League American Division MVP and Legends of Massillon Division I District quintet-medalist before tying for 26th at the D-I state tournament. The three-year starter posted a Medina County-leading 38.1 average, including a 3-under-par 69 at the SL Preseason Tournament.
Butler will join a Vikings program that was third at the three-day Horizon League Tournament in April. Cleveland State is projected to have at least seven letterwinners on the roster by the time Butler arrives in 2017, including reigning D-II state runner-up medalist Kaylee Neumeister of Cortland Lakeview.
“I’d like to tighten up some things in my game and keep improving as I go along and get a degree in business,” Butler said. “They have a really great business school, and that was one of the many reasons I picked Cleveland State.”