Salem grad Madi Morson shines during debut for Central Michigan
Madi Morson, a 2024 graduate of Salem High School, sparkled in her collegiate debut for Central Michigan University. PHOTO BY JASPER WARNER
Freshman jitters?
Not for 2024 Salem High School graduate/Michigan Miss Basketball finalist Madi Morson in her collegiate debut for Central Michigan University’s women’s basketball team Nov. 4 against visiting Coastal Carolina.
Morson tallied nine of her team-high 13 points in the first 14 minutes of the game to help the Chippewas build a 29-12 second quarter lead.
The Chanticleers rallied to claim a 65-62 victory, but the result didn’t subdue the first of what promises to be many stellar efforts by Morson, who led the Rocks to a Cinderella-esque run to the MHSAA Division 1 semifinals during her junior season (2022-23).
Praise from coach
Second-year CMU Head Coach Kristin Haynie included Morson and the team’s other first-year players in her post-game remarks.
“[The freshmen] came out and they weren’t nervous,” Haynie was quoted on the CMU Athletics website. “It was really good to see. This was their first game and for them to come out and show the poise that they had and their composure in the first half… for them to come out and start like that, we’re going to be OK.”
Morson listed two specific reasons why she chose to attend CMU on her individual bio page.
“Out of all of the schools that offered me, Coach Haynie’s description of the play style we’re going to have is the way I love to play basketball,” Morson said. “Central also has the best engineering program out of all of my offers.”
The daughter of Stephanie and Theodis Morson of Canton, Madi is the youngest of five siblings: sisters Alex and Chanel; and brothers Reyhand and Razi.
Academic star, too
A stellar student at Salem, Morson’s academic plans include majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in American Sign Language.
Morson’s family tree has plenty of athletic DNA. She has three cousins currently competing in college athletics: Jordin King (Howard University softball), Amaya Battle (University of Minnesota women’s basketball), and Jamison Battle (Minnesota men’s basketball).
Morson will be returning to southeast Michigan Thursday night when the Chippewas travel to Ann Arbor to battle the University of Michigan at Crisler Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
