SWOSU basketball player Maddy North said she knew for sure she wanted to play basketball for SWOSU when coach Kelsi Musick said a few kind words to North.
“I was getting recruited by other colleges, but SWOSU just seemed like the right fit,” North said. “What really made this clear was after one of my games at Newcastle, I texted coach Musick about a big win we just had and she said she was proud of me. Coach Musick was the only coach who ever said she was proud of me. After that, I knew I was coming to SWOSU and I did not want to go anywhere else.”
The 6-foot sophomore forward from the Newcastle Lady Racers has been playing basketball and sports for as long as she can remember. She played soccer when she was 4 years old and played all the way to her freshman year of high school. She played volleyball in middle school and until her junior year of high school and she also played little league sports.
“I have played basketball since kindergarten,” North said. “I loved being a Lady Racer. The high point was winning the state championship as a freshman in high school. That was super fun and it was really cool being around my teammates. Those memories from bus rides to just hanging and playing basketball are timeless. I was blessed with such great friends at Newcastle.”
North said her faith motivates her as a person and she loves going to college at SWOSU.
“My biggest motivation is my faith,” North said. “God has given me an ability to play basketball and he has given me everything. I want to glorify him and I want to make it a point to share his love and grace he gives me. I know without him, I would not be able to do what I love to do.”
North is a health science major and she said she loves all the people at SWOSU.
“One of my favorite parts of SWOSU is getting to make connections and meeting new people,” North said. “It is really sweet to have this opportunity and I love the people here.”
North said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been rough, but she is glad to be at SWOSU and to have the opportunity to play this season.
“It has been great playing basketball at SWOSU,” North said. “Last year was crazy and a challenge. This year has been very positive. I am happy to be a Bulldog and being here playing basketball has been a huge blessing.”
North said last season will drive them this year and coach Musick and assistant coach Cophie Anderson are driving them to get better all the time.
“This definitely drove us going into the offseason,” North said. “This COVID-19 pandemic took away the opportunity for us to compete at regionals. Coach Musick and Coach Anderson do a great job keeping a fire built in us. It was discouraging losing the opportunity and having to wait so long to play again. This really motivated us and we wanted to play basketball so bad. This will drive us to the end of the season.”
North said some advice she would give to incoming freshmen is to keep pushing through the offseason workouts in September and October, because everyone has to suffer through the pain, but it makes you better come basketball season.
“It is going to be a rough start, but everyone has everyones back and you will make it through,” North said. “We are a team and we push each other and get through the tough times together.”
North said playing basketball fulfills a dream her dad had for her.
“This was one of my dad’s dreams,” North said. “He has always wanted that and he wanted to play in college, but he did not get that opportunity. Coming to SWOSU allows me to fulfill one of his dreams as well as mine. We are both super passionate about basketball.” North said she really wants to win a conference championship and go far in the postseason and she wants to become an ultrasound profession.
“My team already has accomplished so much,” North said. “I want to win a Great American Conference championship and continue to go even further this season. Outside of basketball, I want to continue to do well in school and make my time worthwhile at SWOSU. When I graduate, I want to become an ultrasound profession, which is one of my dreams. I also want to make my life the best it possibly can be.”