The Last week has been full of emotions for Addison Conklin. The senior found out last Thursday night (November 30th) that the Penquis Patriots were canceling varsity girls basketball season for the 2023/2024 season due to lack of participation.
This week, things started to change for Conklin. On Tuesday night, she traveled with the Foxcroft Ponies to Howland for a preseason game against Penobscot Valley High School. On Wednesday and Thursday she participated in the Ponies practice. On Saturday, she will be taking the trip to East Machias and be on the Ponies roster when they open the season against Washington Academy.
“The emotions have been intense over the course of the last week. Last Thursday, I was thinking my basketball career was over, and I would never get a chance to play high school ball again, it was heartbreaking to hear. Sure I only have this season left before I graduate, but I wasn’t ready to part ways with it quite yet. I felt that everything that I was excited for within basketball was tore down, up until Tuesday night,” Conklin said. “I had a very fortunate opportunity to travel to FA and meet the girls, along with the coach, and then travel with them to their Howland scrimmage and see what their team was about. After that, with some paperwork and more discussions, I decided to join them on practice on Wednesday and see how I would enjoy it. I found myself feeling like I could actually get my senior season back, and with the help of the girls and coaches, they made me feel at home again.”
Conklin has had quite an athletic career at Penquis. She had 44 goals and six assists during a 2023 soccer season where the Patriots won the 8 player regional championship. Conklin was the leading scorer the Penquis girls basketball team for each of the past three seasons, including in a 2022/2023 season that the Patriots finished 9-9. She knows her role for the Ponies will be different.
“I feel like I’m going to be a help to the team once everything is established, and regular season starts. Definitely in a different aspect than I did at Penquis, but in a way where it can maybe bring up the intensity and depth to the playing field”, Conklin said. Those girls are very talented, and I am very excited to see them blossom over the season, along with myself with the help of the team.”
Foxcroft Coach Levi Ladd added, “I think she brings several strong attributes. She has a lot of minutes on the floor whether that be bringing the ball up the floor, being the leading scorer, or guarding the best scorer on the other team. She is also a good shooter and scorer. Having one more person who can shoot will help us tremendously.”
Conklin is thankful that the administration, Foxcroft coach Levi Ladd, and her new teammates for giving her the opportunity to have a final high school basketball season.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity that Foxcroft has provided me, welcoming me to their team with open arms when they’ve already been a few weeks into the season”, Conklin said
Ladd added, “On a personal level, I am very happy for her. As a former Penquis person, I felt bad about that whole situation. Hopefully we can get some of those people from Penquis over and supporting Addison and our team.”
Conklin will be officially on the team on Friday after a two day tryout. Ladd asked the team after Thursday’s practice who wanted Addison on the team and every member of the squad said they did.
After the road game this weekend, the Ponies will play home games against Ellsworth (12/13), Presque Isle (12/16), and Hermon (12/19). All those games can be seen on Eastern Maine Sports Media.
