Lampkins taking talents to Air Force Academy
North Fort Myers High standout athlete Madison Lampkins has earned a full-ride scholarship to the Air Force Academy.
Lampkins, who starred four years for North’s girls’ soccer team and became one of the school’s all-time greats, has accepted an offer to play soccer for Air Force in Colorado Springs, a commitment that comes with an estimated value of over $450,000 during her four years of eligibility.
Lampkins said she started the process her junior year and, since she was committed to soccer and was considered a “blue chip,” she learned a whole lot sooner than most.
She got the news on her way to her grandmother’s birthday party in November.
“My coach told me and I just started crying in the car I was so excited,” Lampkins said. “I learned the year before I was committed to soccer at the academy that very same day.”
Lampkins officially signed two weeks ago and receives her scholarship on Wednesday on senior night.
After starting out in life doing dancing and other “girl stuff,” her parents signed her up for YMCA soccer at age 5 and she was hooked.
Lampkins was a Cape Coral All-Star, Disney champion, and regional finalist, and that was before high school.
As a Red Knight, Lampkins set a team record for most points in a career (49 goals, 33 assists), a record she broke as a junior, and was part of the most successful senior class in history, helping North appear in three regionals, including a regional final this year.
“High school soccer has always been about having fun, playing with all the girls I grew up with and playing for my school,” Lampkins said. “It’s not like football or basketball, where they recruit you in high school.”
Lampkins gained real exposure through the elite league teams she has played for in and out of the country. She also played for SC Del Sol in the Elite Club National League, the nation’s premier women’s soccer league. She received training privately from Felix Acosta, who runs his own academy.
“Madison is one of the most technical players that I have had the opportunity to work with. Her desire of perfection drives her to have the ability to play at the highest level,” Acosta says in a statement. “This is why she has been so successful playing against some of the nation’s best players at IMG Academy.”
She also is pretty good at golf, being named captain this year and earning second-team all-area honors.
She has excelled off the field as well. She was Student Government president this year, and an officer for her class the previous three years, and president of her freshman class.
Her 5.3 grade-point average places her 18th in her class of 380, which earns her place in the National Honor Society. Her student rank also puts her in North’s Academic Hall of Fame, which is the top 10 percent of each graduating class.
Lampkins said she wants to major in weather science or science in general.
Those accepted to the academy don’t pay tuition, but are required to serve in the Air Force for five years upon graduation. She may extend that commitment and wants to go into pilot training after graduation.
Lampkins has just two more hours of flight training before taking her test. She expects to get her pilot’s license before she graduates.
“I’ve been telling my friends forever that once I get my license I could take them up. I could maybe fly my parents somewhere,” Lampkins said.
As for soccer, Lampkins said she will join a young squad with a good young head coach. She will play in the Mountain West Conference and expects the team, which has shown progress, to become a force in the coming years.
“In the last couple years, it’s been a couple of missed marks and they let a goal in. They’re competitive, and with eight incoming freshmen they’re really excited,” Lampkins said. “Hopefully, by my junior year we’ll compete in the NCAA tournament.”
Lampkins said her four years at North were special, with a positive atmosphere in which to learn.
“It’s all about tradition, it’s all about family, it’s about respect. It’s a great atmosphere to be around,” Lampkins said. “The teachers and students care about each other. It’s not a cliquey school and everyone has a lot of pride in it.”