Sixteen-year-old Addison Sapp is a junior at Quitman High School. Sapp was nominated for this Player Spotlight by Quitman ISD Athletic Director and Coach Shane Webber.
Sapp is a multisport athlete who plays volleyball and basketball, participates in cheer and competes in track and field for Quitman ISD. She is also a member of the 17U 3SSB Texas Lonestar basketball team.
During her freshman year, Sapp was named Basketball Freshman of the Year for District 13-3A and earned academic all-district honors. As a sophomore, she was named second-team all-district in volleyball. In basketball, she earned academic all-district honors, was named District 13-3A MVP, received Region II-3A honors and was selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association 3A Super Elite Team. In track, she was an area qualifier as a member of the girls 4x400-meter relay team.
Sapp’s success extends beyond her high school teams. Her 16U Texas Lonestar basketball team won the 3SSB 16U Classic Championship on the Adidas circuit. With her junior year just getting started, she has already been named District Player of the Week for the first week of volleyball district play.
Away from athletics, Sapp stays active in school and community activities. She is involved in UIL, the Kindness Club and her school’s health science program. She also participates in both Leadership Development Events and Career Development Events through FFA.
After high school, Sapp hopes to attend college and pursue her dream of playing college basketball while earning a degree in kinesiology. She is considering several colleges but has not yet decided where she would like to attend.
Sapp’s athletic journey has not been without challenges. During her eighth-grade year, she tore her ACL and meniscus during a basketball game, ending her sports season. Recovery took months of rehabilitation, hard work and determination. Following surgery to repair the injuries, Sapp was cleared to return to sports eight months later. She returned to volleyball midway through her freshman season.
“Coming back was much harder than I expected. I struggled with confidence and felt unsure about whether I would be able to be the same athlete I had been before my injury. Instead of allowing those feelings to stop me, I used them as motivation. They pushed me to work harder, become stronger, and prove to myself that I could overcome something that once felt impossible,” Sapp said.
Sapp credits her physical therapist and orthopedic team with playing an important role in her recovery. Her experience also helped her discover what she wants to pursue as a career. She hopes to help other people and athletes work through their injuries, regain their confidence and return to the activities they love.
Sapp describes her injury as the hardest experience she has faced but one that ultimately changed her for the better and taught her an important lesson.
“Nothing is guaranteed. A game, a practice, or even an entire season can be taken away in a moment. Because I know what it feels like to have those opportunities taken from me, I try not to take them for granted anymore. I want to work hard at every practice, give everything I have in every game, and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” Sapp said.