SALISBURY, Md. – This is "Nest to Nest," a regular series spotlighting the big miles and bigger stories of the Sea Gull student-athletes on each team who traveled the farthest to be at Salisbury University. This week,
Madi Sisson of the SU women's cross country team welcomes us to the outer reaches of Chicagoland where city living meets small-time vibes.
Madi Sisson | Sr., Women's Cross Country
Hometown:
Downers Grove, Illinois
Population:
50,248
Distance from Salisbury:
825 miles
Driving Time:
13 hours, 8 minutes
What would you say your hometown is known for?
It's probably known just for being one of the really cool neighborhoods outside Chicago. You can go there and get a break from the big city; it's got a real small-town feel.
What's your favorite hometown hangout spot?
My family and I really love
the Cellar Door, downtown. It's a fantastic place to eat and a fantastic place to just hang out. They have trivia on Wednesdays, too, which we really enjoy.
Which local sports teams do you root for?
I actually root for the St. Louis Cardinals for baseball, not the Cubs. Otherwise I'm a Chicago Blackhawks and Bears fan. It's kind of rough out there [for a Cardinal fan], but I've been a supporter for a while.
How did you hear about Salisbury University?
I was introduced by my family friend who lives in Connecticut. I knew I wanted to go far away for college, ideally near a beach, and so they sent me a big, old list of schools. I contacted some of the coaches and met up with Coach Jones and really liked the campus and everything around the program and ended up here.
What's the biggest difference between life in your hometown and life here in Salisbury?
I know we're not right on the beach in Salisbury, but the beaches that we have in the Midwest are around lakes, and the beaches here are along oceans. So everything that comes with beach town life is very different from going to lakes for fun.
What's something you can turn to that reminds you of your hometown on the days when you miss it?
Just walking through the neighborhoods is nice. I mean, Downers Grove is very much a town based around all these little neighborhoods, so getting out and walking around the neighborhoods here feels good.
How would you sell someone on visiting your hometown?
There's a decent amount to do whether you stay in town, or you can go 20 minutes outside of it and hit all the forests and forest reserves that we have. Or you can go in the other direction and hit the big city of Chicago, and there's endless things to do there. So it's tons of fun. You can get the best of both worlds out there.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 205 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
