Maddie Lewis had a big decision to make. She had just completed her freshman year of college. Maddie had found the right place, but had she found the right sport? That question became top of mind as she recalled special childhood memories of sharing the golf course with her father Tom and the emotions she felt when she played at the Iowa state golf tournament for the final time as a high school athlete.
By the time Concordia University, Nebraska Head Golf Coach Brett Muller reached out to Lewis in the recruiting process, she had committed to play volleyball for coaches Ben and Angie Boldt. A year spent inside the volleyball program helped clear up the picture for Maddie.
Says Maddie, “I remember after I graduated high school and I played my last golf tournament at state, I was really emotional. I knew I wasn’t going to play competitive golf again. It didn’t sit right with me, but I made a commitment to Ben and Angie. I came here in the fall and made the best friends in the world with the volleyball team. After my spring season with volleyball, I decided it wasn’t for me. I have a lot of respect for Ben and Angie and what they do. They obviously have one of the best teams in the country.
“I really did miss golf. I decided to give it a shot and see what Coach Muller had to say.”
The transition from freshman to sophomore year is part of the story for Lewis, who has earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and now sets her sights on a fifth year of collegiate athletics. The decision to stick around for one more season of competition was another significant one faced by Lewis. She wasn’t quite ready to give up life at Concordia, where she’s grown exponentially in her golf game and faith life. It’s where she’s met lifelong friends while setting the stage for the next chapters of her journey.
Personal growth and the strengthening of her mental game have been reflected in the results on the course. The Treynor, Iowa, native has turned in respective season-by-season scoring averages of 91.5, 87.3 and 83.7. This past season, Maddie played a starring role as the Bulldogs broke school records for lowest 18-hole team score (320), lowest 36-hole tournament team score (336-322–658) and lowest single season average (335.9).
Having played 56 collegiate rounds, Maddie is ready for more. As it turns out, Muller will enjoy a full four years of coaching Lewis.
Says Muller, “I was really excited to have her make that transition. Maddie would probably admit that the first year was probably a bit tougher than she expected in the transition to playing competitive golf again after a year off. I’m really excited about where she’s at now. She’s definitely one of the leaders on our women’s team. I was excited when she made the decision to return for her fifth year.”
Considering how Maddie craves competition, her choice to keep playing is no surprise. On the court or the course, Maddie badly wants to win, and oftentimes, she shows it in a visible manner. That’s something she’s also worked to iron out. The sport of volleyball is associated with more regular outpouring of emotion, but golf differs in obvious ways.
But the passion will always be there for Lewis, who got her start at the Treynor Recreation Area golf course, just down the street from her home in the small town of roughly 1,000 people. Maddie is the daughter of Tom and Sheila, who are fixtures at their daughter's golf tournaments. Tom once served as the mayor of Treynor, the hometown of Maddie’s mother.
Family influence had an impact on what sports Maddie chose to play. As she says, “Those were my two sports. I always loved volleyball. I grew up watching my cousins play in Treynor, so I knew I wanted to play volleyball. My dad played golf. We live like 30 seconds from the course. We can drive right down from our house. My dad started taking me out when I was four or five. I started playing and I fell in love with it during my high school years.”
As a prep senior, Lewis placed 11th at the Iowa Class 2A state golf tournament and accumulated more than 500 kills throughout her high school career. Her affinity for both sports made it a challenge for her to choose just one. Maddie got connected to Concordia via one of her club coaches. In the recruiting process, “I just fell in love with the school,” as she put it.
Maddie spent a season on the junior varsity roster for Concordia’s high achieving volleyball program. A year later, Lewis made her debut on the collegiate golf scene while shooting 86-91–177 at the 2023 Mount Marty Invite. Throughout her sophomore season, Maddie’s scores fluctuated significantly with a low round of 81 and a high round of 108. In some moments, the frustration showed. It was part of the process.
“In the mental side of the game, I’m sure Coach Muller and everyone on the team can attest to it, I have definitely grown in that aspect from my sophomore year,” Lewis said. “I did not realize how much I needed to regulate my emotions when I played golf, especially at the college level. The mental game is so important. I’m thankful I’ve grown in that over my three years.”
Added Maddie, “My faith has helped me grow in my emotional strength. When I walk off the golf course, it doesn’t matter to Jesus. He cares about who I am as a person, as a student, as a daughter and as a friend.”
As Maddie has enhanced her mental game, the results have followed. This past 2025-26 season, Maddie turned in place finishes of third at the Frommelt Classic, sixth at the Siouxland Invite, eighth at the Nebraska Intercollegiate and fourth at the Bethel Invite. She concluded the campaign with her highest career GPAC finish of 14th. This was more like it.
“Anyone that’s been around Maddie knows that she’s a very competitive person,” Muller explained. “That first year, her scores were not reflective of the player and potential she had. She’s worked very hard the last several years to really improve.”
Maddie believes there’s more improvement yet to come in one last season of competition. Maddie and her best friend Emery Custer will continue life as Bulldogs as Custer assumes the role of the program’s graduate assistant. Custer just polished off an impressive four-year career that included four GPAC All-Conference awards. This new dynamic is one Lewis and Custer will relish.
Says Custer, “I consider Maddie one of my best friends, and I have golf to thank for bringing us together. I’ve loved every chance we’ve had to play together, and we’re both so grateful for another year. Our dynamic will definitely look a little different, but I can’t wait to see where our teamwork takes us and our team. So excited for what’s ahead!”
Relationships formed with people like Custer helped inspire Maddie’s return. Currently working for an accounting firm in Omaha for the summer, Maddie begin her MBA while also studying (a lot!) for the CPA exam. However limited her free time may be, Maddie understands that life is good.
“Concordia is such a special place,” Lewis said. “I will say that over and over again. The main reason I say that is because of the people. Coach Muller is one of the best coaches I’ve had. He’s really brought me into his family. He could have said ‘no’ after I wanted to join the golf team my sophomore year. I had a lot of ups and downs that year and he always stuck it out with me and had a lot of grace. Emery is my best friend. Her coming back is also a big factor. I realized after my senior year that I did not want to give this up. I didn’t want to leave this place just yet.”