By Angela Brunk
Senior outfielder Addison Cooper is preparing for one final season with Shawnee Heights High School, and she’s focused on making it a memorable one for the Thunderbirds.
“I’m looking forward to being a Shawnee Heights Thunderbird for one more season while competing and having fun with all of my teammates,” Cooper said. “As a senior, I’m excited to have a leadership role and give the underclassmen someone they can look up to.”
Cooper focused on refining her mechanics at the plate and sharpening her defensive skills in the outfield. In addition, she has dedicated significant time to strength and speed training. “One area I’ve been working to improve from last year is my strength and speed,” Cooper said. “I’ve been doing workouts throughout the entire offseason and will continue them during the season.”
Last season, Cooper was a key contributor to a Shawnee Heights team that finished with an impressive 20–7 record. She posted a .382 batting average, a .478 on-base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage while driving in 17 RBIs. Defensively, she recorded a .920 fielding percentage with 23 putouts.
Her strong performance earned her Sports in Kansas Honorable Mention All-State honors and First Team All-Conference recognition in the UKC.
For Cooper, team success remains the top priority. After falling in the first round of the state tournament last year, she believes the Thunderbirds have the talent to make a deeper run.
“My main goal for the team is to make it back to State,” she said.
Off the field, Cooper excels academically with a 3.93 GPA and consistent Honor Roll recognition. She is also active in Junior Civitan and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Next year, Cooper will continue her softball career at Kansas City, Kansas Community College while studying pre-physical therapy.
