Elizabeth Madison is your 2026 Loveland Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal

The below comes from Erik Shrewsberry from the Loveland Athletic Booster Homecoming Parade Committee:

The Loveland Athletic Boosters is proud to announce this year’s Loveland Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal- Elizabeth Madison!  Elizabeth is one of the most dominant athletes in Loveland history, as she is its only 3-timestate wrestling champion and a 3-time Fargo Junior Nationals All-American. She also is this year’s recipient of the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches’ most outstanding female wrestler award.

With a 143-2 career record including 130 pins, Elizabeth often makes winning look easy on the mat, but she faced significant hurdles on her way to success in wrestling.

As a Loveland Youth and Middle School wrestler, the sports trailblazer competed against boys, including some who weren’t eager to face a girl. When Elizabeth finished with only 3 wins in her 7^th-grade season, frustration made her consider quitting wrestling entirely. Fortunately, she persevered thanks to her love for the sport, excellent coaching that fixed her technique and improved her confidence, and a great support system that included her parents, brothers, and teammates who didn’t let her give up on herself.She bought into the concept that if you’re not trying, then you’re failing. Elizabeth’s determination and hard work paid off with an improvement to 25 wins and a district title as an 8^th grader.

The OHSAA sanctioned girls wrestling as a sport prior to Elizabeth’s freshman season, and she quickly showed she was the best in Ohio with a state championship in each of her first two years. While trying out for the Loveland soccer team before her junior year, she tore knee ligaments. Surgery and more than 5 months of rehab followed, leading to an abbreviated wrestling season and a state title runner-up finish on a knee that she said still isn’t 100percent. Not long after that match, Elizabeth tore ligaments in her elbow. Again, she had surgery and faced a similar late start to her senior season. And again, she showed the heart of a champion by winning her 3^rd state title, this time with a perfect 40-0 record.

A 2026 LHS graduate, she also finished her career as:

- A 3-time wrestling program captain

- Loveland’s first 4-time state wrestling qualifier

- Loveland’s first 4-time district wrestling champion, and

- Loveland’s first 4-time state wrestling finalist

Elizabeth’s impact on the wrestling program and our community is special, according to Loveland Athletic Director Jayson Bruce, who said, “Elizabeth is an amazing young lady. To be able to do what she has done through her wrestling career while battling through adversity shows the type of person she is. Loveland is so proud of her!”

Elizabeth is the daughter of Gary and Teresa Madison and has three brothers: Gary, a 2024 LHS grad; plus junior Randy and sophomore Nathan, both part of your Loveland Tigers football program. Elizabeth is studying nursing and continuing her wrestling career at the University of Mount Union.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for your resolve and for representing the very best of Loveland athletics.