addie bitting ▶ ladue horton watkins high school
The junior first took to the lacrosse field a couple of years ago, and it wasn’t long before the fast-paced sport got into her blood. “My friends were playing it, and my parents thought it would be good for me to try a spring sport,” Addie says. “I started playing and got really interested.” She’s had considerable success in a short time and now plays indoor (box) lacrosse as well as field lacrosse.
Addie suits up for club teams including St. Louis 410 West, which has a fall outdoor season. Recently, she played box lacrosse with the Denver Pride Midget Squad, and the team won a gold medal at the USBOXLA National Championship Tournament in California. Competitions keep the Ladue native on the road, but she still is involved off the field. She works on her high school yearbook and is involved with the nonprofit Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Why is lacrosse a good fit for you?
I like the speed of it. People say it’s the fastest game on two feet, and it really is. There’s never a moment when you are just standing on the field; you’re always active. I also like that there is more scoring than other sports—you don’t have games with scores like 1-0. It doesn’t take long to start putting points on the board, and I think that’s exciting.
Are you involved in other sports?
I played basketball and tennis when I was younger, and I still play tennis and golf for fun sometimes. But I’m pretty busy these days, so there isn’t a lot of time for anything extra.
How is box lacrosse different?
Box lacrosse is played indoors, it has some different rules, the sticks are different, and the nets are smaller. It’s also physically rougher because you make more contact with other players. I like it a lot—it’s really fun.
How have sports been positive for you?
They have helped me with my speed and physical strength. I work out at Athletic Republic four or five times a week when I’m in town, and that helps me stay active. Sports also have taught me helpful time management skills, and my coaches have been great mentors. They have encouraged me to keep doing my best and have helped me look for colleges with good athletic programs.
What are your plans after high school?
I’m not sure yet what I want to study in college, but I am interested in sports business and marketing. I have verbally committed to the University of Indianapolis on a lacrosse scholarship.
Is it tough to manage your time between athletics and school?
When you are involved in sports, you have to learn how to balance your time. And it’s hard to join a lot of clubs because most of them meet when I have practice. But I don’t have any trouble studying when I’m on the road. I spend a lot of time reading in airports!