From best friends to college athletes: Glenns Ferry’s Maddie Spriggs and Alondra Duenas to compete at the next level
The two have been best friends since the fourth grade and knew they wanted to sign together.
GLENNS FERRY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — It’s always a special day for any student-athlete to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level, but it’s even more special when you can do it side by side with your best friend.
That held true for Maddie Spriggs and Alondra Duenas, who signed their National Letter of Intent on Wednesday before their school assembly.
The two have been best friends since the fourth grade and knew they wanted to sign together.
Spriggs will run track at Northwest Nazarene University, while Duenas will play soccer at Blue Mountain Community College.
“It was a happy moment, but looking over and saw her crying broke my heart,” Spriggs told KMVT about Duenas.“It was sad, but I’m happy we could share the moment and play sports together all the way through.”
Duenas echoed the statement.
“It was a surreal feeling to experience it with my best friend,” Duenas told KMVT. “I couldn’t imagine anyone else being my best friend. I love her.”
Spriggs is believed to be the first track athlete in school history to run in college. She is a 7x state place winner, placing in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and the long jump.
During her high school career, she has broken two school records.
Even more impressively, she is a 4.0 student.
“I loved what the school (Northwest Nazarene) had to offer, and I enjoyed the coaching staff,” Spriggs said. “I also enjoy that the campus is right by my grandparents.”
Northwest Nazarene is a Division II school in Nampa, Idaho.
Spriggs hopes to double major in Kinesiology and physical education.
For Duenas, soccer has always been in her blood.
She grew up loving the sport and watching Chivas with her dad.
Duenas played her high school soccer career for the Bliss Bears, as Glenns Ferry didn’t have a program.
“I was intimidated at first going there as a freshman and wondering if I was going to play or not,” Duenas told KMVT. “It ended up being great, and I made many new friendships because of it.”
It played out in her favor as she was a four-year starter for Bliss.
She was also 2x Defensive Player of the Year for the Bears and was the MVP during the 2024 season.
Duenas was named a first-team 4A High Desert Conference selection for her performances.
Now, at Blue Mountain, the school made her feel welcomed.
“I think I’ll fit in really well, especially after talking with the coaching staff, who were very nice,” Duenas said.
She plans to study radiology and wants to be an ultrasound technician.
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