Loveland senior Makena Cleveland and Mountain View senior Madeline Clark have been named two of the ‘Most Positive’ Colorado athletes by the Positive Athlete program.
The organization announced the selections Thursday on social media and in a news release.
Out of 920 nominations from coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and parents submitted for the Positive Athlete program statewide — representing 292 different public and private high schools — 28 athletes were selected.
Cleveland competed in tennis for the Red Wolves, while Clark runs track and cross country while also excelling in diving for the Mountain Lions.
According to posts on social media, Cleveland earned the award for recruiting 30 players, organizing practices, and coaching her team through a full season before Loveland hired an official tennis coach.
Of Clark, the organization said, “Three stress fractures. Four broken bones. Nerve damage. Clark logged 150 community service hours, worked two jobs, and earned a scholarship to Boise State. Injury never wrote her ending.”
According to the release, Positive Athlete, Inc. is a national organization that seeks to promote the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the country through awards, scholarships and special opportunities.
Since 2013, Positive Athlete has recognized thousands of student-athletes across the country with Positive Athlete awards, awarding over $700,000 in scholarships.
Cleveland and Clark will be recognized at the 2026 Colorado Positive Athlete Award Experience on June 3 at DCSD Legacy Campus. Scholarships totaling a record $15,000 will be awarded.
The Loveland senior recently completed her final season with the Red Wolves tennis team at the Class 4A Region 4 tournament last week at Mehaffey Park. She was the team’s only returning state qualifier this season.
Clark’s senior year began with an eighth-place finish in the Class 4A race at the state cross country meet in the fall. She then finished 10th in the diving competition at the Class 4A swim meet in February. She has broken five school records in track ahead of next weekend’s state meet and has the fastest 800-meter run time in the entire state this season.
