Sisters will be missed
Earlier this month, the Madebach sisters wrapped up their incredible careers at Augusta Christian.
They went out in style, leading the Lions to region and state titles in cross country and track. It is hard to imagine that any athletes have had more impressive high school credentials than Rebekah and Sarah Madebach.
This year's cross country region title was the school's fifth in a row, and the school also captured their second state crown.
Also, in track the Madebachs led the way as ACS won its second region crown and first ever state championship in track (boys or girls). Along the way the dynamic duo has piled up some amazing individual accomplishments.
As eighth-graders, they led Augusta Christian to the region title and finished as state runners-up in cross country. This was just a glimpse of things to come.
In 2000-02 ACS picked up another region title, and with Sarah and Rebekah leading the way ACS captured their first-ever girls state championship in cross country. Also, the two finished first (Sarah) and second (Rebekah) at the state track meet in the 3,200 meters.
Rebekah Madebach (front) and her sister Sarah Madebach finished their track careers at Augusta Christian this month.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The two were starting to get a lot of attention for their efforts so early in their careers, and they did not disappoint during their sophomore season.
They lead the way to another region title in cross country (third in state). Individually, Sarah won the state cross country championship, the state title in the 3,200 meters, and finished second in the 1,600 meters.
Rebekah wasn't too shabby, either.
She finished second to her sister in cross country and won the 800 meters at the state track meet. All this success and they were only sophomores!
As juniors in 2002-03, ACS picked up their annual region championship in cross country and were state runners-up.
Sarah once again was the cross country state champ, with Rebekah finishing second. Sarah also won the 1,600 meters at the state track meet and finished second in the 1,600 meters.
Along with her runner-up finish in cross country, Rebekah captured the another state crown in the 3,200 and 800 meters. 2003-04 has been a awesome year for ACS as the Madebachs saved their best for last.
The two seniors were a part of yet another region cross country title and this time they also won the region track championship.
As if that weren't enough, the two led ACS to state crowns in both sports as well. Also, Rebekah set a state record in the 3,200 meters and missed the 800 meter record by 2 seconds. Sarah missed the 1,600 meter record by just 4 tenths of a second.
I think it is safe to say that no two athletes have had such a big impact on a school (and it probably won't happen again any time soon). The Madebachs were a part of six region team championships and ACS's first three girls state titles of any kind.
Individually, the two combined for an astonishing 12 state championships, nine runners-up finishes and too many region titles to count.
It comes as no surprise that many colleges coveted the Madebachs. And this fall they will take their long distance running prowess to Athens, as both have accepted scholarships to run track and cross country at the University of Georgia.
There is no doubt that their GISA foes are happy to see them moving on, but the folks on Baston Road will sorely miss, and not soon forget, Rebekah and Sarah Madebach.