FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
To say that the Harlingen Lady Cardinals basketball team had a good 2015-16 season is a major understatement.
The Lady Red Birds finished the season at 34-2, lost only one game in the regular season – which came against San Antonio Clark in a tournament shortly before Thanksgiving – then rattled off the next 22 in a row en route to an undefeated District 32-6A title. And while the team ultimately fell short in the playoffs, losing to Weslaco in the third round, the season it had was an undeniable success.
A big reason for that prosperity was the play of senior center Addison Dickey, who not only got things done on the court but also proved to be a team leader to all the underclassmen on the squad.
In addition to her prowess on the basketball court, Dickey was also masterful in front of a net as she provided plenty of power for the Lady Cards’ volleyball team.
Bottom line, Dickey is a gifted athlete and it’s no wonder that she is a finalist for the 6A Female Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 14 in McAllen.
The other nominees up for the award are Mayda Garcia of McAllen Rowe and Belle Palacios of PSJA North.
Dickey sat down with the VMS recently to talk about her nomination.
Q: How does it feel being nominated for the 6A Female Athlete of the Year award?
A: When I found out I was nominated for award, I was in shock. My first question was ‘how did I get nominated?’ I never knew that there was award like this one. I feel completely honored that the people that nominated me even thought to consider me for being in the running for such an amazing award. I feel completely honored just to be a nominee.
Q: What would winning the award mean to you?
A: Winning this award would mean a lot to me. I’ve always played any sport, giving a 110 percent and expecting nothing in return. I just played to have fun, build friendships and to meet new people. If I were to win this award, it would just add on to the amazing memories that I have made in the past four years of my high school career. It would also be a great way to honor my teammates and coaches that have been with me along the way.
Q: How would you define your high school career?
A: I would define my high school career as the best roller coaster ride. I have always had my ups and downs as everyone does. There would be a lot of practices where I wouldn’t make any shots under the basket or all of my hits were in the net, little things like that just kept me going. My mistakes kept me hungry because I wanted to be better for my team and coach, and to get us as far as we could in the playoffs.
Q: What will you remember most from your four years of playing sports in high school?
A: Out of these past four years, my all-time favorite memories have to be the bus rides and the tournaments. That is when my teammates, coaches and I would build a family bond. There was never a time that we weren’t singing, laughing, dancing or eating. Those are the memories that I will never forget.
Q: If you could have only played one sport in high school, which one would it have been?
A: If I had to choose between volleyball and basketball, I would pick volleyball. I choose volleyball because I know that I would have a better chance of playing at the next level because, let’s face it, there are no 5-11 posts in college.
Q: Is there any sport that you might have missed out on that you wish you could go back and play?
A: If I could go back to freshman year, I think I would have liked to try out softball. I think that it’s a fun and interesting sport. My dad played baseball for the Cardinals and mom played for a select team back when she was my age, and I think that it is something they may have wanted me to try, but I was too focused on volleyball and basketball.
Q: Everybody is motivated by something or someone. What kept you motivated throughout your high school career?
A: People are what motivated me. After my freshman year of basketball, I would see many people that would go and watch my team, and I would play and they would always ask me ‘are you ready for the season?’ I felt the need to not let anyone down. Sports are all that my family would talk about when we would have our family barbecues. I also wanted to make all of my coaches throughout the years proud and be able to say that they coached me. Not only did I want my old coaches to say that, but also my parents and grandparents, too.
This is part of a series on all the area athletes up for awards at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet, which will be held on June 14 at the DoubleTree Suites in McAllen. Up next: Harlingen High’s Sami Quilantan, who is a nominee for Girls Basketball Player of the Year.