Addison Benedict '24 Recruiting Profile

From a very early age, my bold and outgoing personality was obvious. I began dance at age three and developed a love for performance and competition, completing seven years of competitive dance. It wasn't until my sophomore year, when our high school cheer coach (and next door neighbor) convinced me to join our varsity competitive cheer team that I realized my years of dance training would help me to quickly transition into my new, favorite sport! While I've recently completed only my second year of competitive cheer (first year flying), I've learned that I'm capable of more than I even imagined! What makes me unique is my confidence and willingness to try a new sport or a new skill, my desire to be part of a team (family!), and my ability to successfully overcome challenges.

In 2020, midway through my eighth grade year, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. After several frustrating years of unexplained stomach/intestinal pain and headaches, I finally had an answer for both my pain and my petite size (which was a topic of a lot of teasing) - gluten was damaging my digestive system and making it impossible for my body to absorb nutrients! Learning to manage this diagnosis and adjusting to a gluten-free life has helped me to grow in height and weight and to recognize the importance of being healthy, strong, and fit.

While I haven't yet identified a specific major or college/career path, I'm exploring several elective courses throughout my junior and senior years to help narrow my list of options. Finding balance and success in being a student-athlete, both in high school and in college, are my top priorities.