By Gracie Fritz
A lot of seniors are preparing this spring for the next step in their life after high school, but for senior Addie Chester, this isn’t the case.
She’s already living her next step.
She graduated at the end of the first semester and now is enrolled this spring at the University of Louisville, where she is a part of the women’s soccer team.
“I wanted to get a jump so I can be more prepared for my first season in the fall,” Addie says.
Addie is a mid-year, so the community and team has been very intentional with her as well as welcoming.
Addie’s classes this semester are sports administration, writing, film, anthropology, and healthy lifestyles.
She has her own bathroom and bedroom, but shares a living room and kitchen with three other teammates.
A day in Addie’s life typically starts off with practicing from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., going to whatever classes she has that day, and then eating dinner with some teammates at the football stadium.
“The community is my favorite part,” Addie says. “The people and the community are what made me pick Louisville, so yeah I love it.”
It was always her passion to play soccer in college. She has just worked harder over time to accomplish this dream.
Scoring 59 goals her junior season alone, Addie set an Indiana state record for goals in a single season. Alongside her amazing junior year, she had 19 assists, also.
She finished with 201 goals, with 36 assists, all in just four seasons here at Delta.
Addie earned several accolades, including All-District, All-Conference, and Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year.
Addie has been interested in soccer since age 4, and she stuck with the sport since. It always struck Addie as a creative sport.
Addie had involved herself in clubs during the off season.
“I almost quit. I was burnt out, but I switched clubs and loved it again,” Addie says, leading her to continue her dream.
Addie was first interested in signing to Penn State University in Pennsylvania, but decided to stay closer to home. She finally signed and officially committed to Louisville, which is in Kentucky.
“Addie has a very dynamic attacking presence and I believe she has the skill and ability to make an immediate impact on our program,” Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes said on Nov. 19, when she signed Addie. “She has a savvy about her in the final third (of the field) and will create scoring chances for both herself and her teammates. She will enroll in college this spring and that will certainly help expedite her transition to the demands of the college game.”
Louisville has had some tough struggles in the scoring department, scoring a total of 11 goals in 10 Atlantic Coast Conference matches. Addie might just be the spark this team needs, being an all-time scoring leader in Indiana high school girls’ soccer history.
Addie says, “I get to get a jump on staying in better shape and will be more likely to start this fall, but cons are leaving my family and missing the last semester of high school obviously. Also not being able to finish my last year of basketball.”
Addie leaves behind her parents and several younger siblings.
“I am sad but happy to see her doing what she loves,” says her sister, sophomore Abby Chester.
