High Point, N.C. - Addison Freeland is the High Point University Panthers' new star two-sport athlete. After winning the Big South Conference for volleyball, Freeland made the decision to join the Track & Field team and finished her spring season a Big South Outdoor Javelin Champion, just as a freshman.
Freeland comes from an athletic family, as both her parents played sports at Brigham Young University. Her brother, Blake, was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Just one of her siblings stands below six feet. Freeland was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing volleyball, was a member of the track & field team, and also played basketball. She was recruited to play volleyball but found success in multiple sports.
When it came to volleyball, Freeland finished her freshman campaign, appearing in 10 matches on the front row as a middle blocker. She recorded her first career kill in her collegiate debut against Fairfield University in the team's season opener. On the javelin side of things, Freeland competed in seven different meets. She placed second at the Charlotte Invitational in April before setting a personal best 44.96m throw a few weeks later at the conference tournament to win it all.
"I was coming into the track season knowing that I could win conference, but I definitely was not expecting it. And obviously, with volleyball's success in the years past, we work hard every day to be able to win the conference every year," said Freeland.
The conference tournament was the first meet that Freeland's mom could attend. This meant a lot, which lit a spark in her. She knew she had to "... put on a show for her."
She put on that show with her entire team tuned in on ESPN, watching her become champion. "So, I got a text from [Compliance Director] Drew [Sanchez] saying 'Addie just threw a bomb'," said volleyball Head Coach Ryan Meek. From then on, the volleyball group chat was bombarded with messages.
The switch from volleyball to javelin was a mid-year switch for the then-freshman.
"Coach [Scott] Hall, saw me in the weight room one day, he was like, 'oh, you're the girl that throws javelin.' That was at the beginning of the year. Didn't even think twice about it," said Freeland.
Freeland then asked Coach Meek if she could be on the track & field team. Could her body hold up to it?
"I didn't really have conversations [about playing two sports] with her until about spring break. She came in and said, 'Hey, I want to try this. What do you think?'... I think it is an awesome pairing. It is so easy to work around the schedule," said Coach Meek.
The time commitment became a big question, but the rookie was able to figure everything out, as the track season was very time-consuming for her.
"I would wake up, go to school, go to volleyball practice, [then] right after volleyball practice I'd go out to the fields, like twice a week, and throw with Coach Hall. After that I would have to get my study held down," said Freeland.
Freeland was training more as a volleyball athlete, according to Coach Meek. On weeks that were more track-heavy, Freeland was limited on her swings in practice.
With more time this year, Coach Meek believes training and adjusting practice for Freeland will be even easier than last year. She has a couple more months to prepare and train this time around.
Freeland had to focus on the important things in her life. She stated that school came first as she is a "student-athlete." Being from Herriman, Utah, she is away from her family, aside from her older sister playing volleyball two states away at Murray State University
Traveling has been super different for Freeland as she is now traveling to play teams on the East Coast more. Her first time being on the East Coast was on her school visit. Her trip to New England to play against Fairfield University comes to mind.
"It is so different than the West Coast, like the trees, and it was during the fall, so it was just so pretty," said Freeland.
She also appreciated going back to the West Coach last year as the team played against BYU and does so again this fall.
Coach Meek said Freeland enjoys everything she does and loves doing it. She is a great teammate and a great player-coach.
"She is excited to be in any role you ask her to do. To get a player that has that much potential, [that] much athleticism, [that] much size, and is willing to do literally whatever you ask her to do is awesome," added Coach Meek.
Some big goals for Freeland this season are winning in the first round of the NCAA tournament. She believes the team has the talent to achieve this feat. The team has yet to complete 20 practices this season, and Freeland is already seeing the improvements. For track & field, she wants to win the conference again. "I think it will be a successful season for both sports," said Freeland.
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