By Ivy Knapp
Sequoyah High School junior Lanie Thompson has been involved in basketball for a long period of her life. She’s been playing for Sequoyah for as long as she can remember. She grew up in the program and built friendships that go beyond the basketball court. Being a student athlete at Sequoyah means more to her than just practices and games, it’s about the memories she’s made and the people she gets to share them with.
Lanie says one of the things that makes being part of Sequoyah so special is the bond she has with her teammates.
“We all pick each other up,” she said. “No matter what happens, we’re always there for one another.”
That kind of support has helped her stay confident and enjoy the sport even through tough games and seasons. Her favorite place to play is right where it all started.
“I really like playing at home just because the crowd is bigger,” she said.
The energy from family, friends, and classmates in the stands always gives her that extra boost of confidence. Playing on other courts can be tricky when playing on the road. Lanie says Kansas can be a challenging court.
“The court is smaller than normal, and it just makes everything different,” she said.
When it comes to inspiration, Lanie looks up to her family. Her biggest influences are her brothers, who’ve taught her a lot about basketball and life in general.
“They’ve always pushed me to get better,” she said. “They’ve been through it, so they give me good advice and keep me grounded.”
Off the court, Lanie’s favorite subject is science, and she gives a lot of credit to Coach Fick, her favorite teacher. Before games, she likes to get focused by staying off her phone and sometimes listening to music to calm her nerves and get mentally ready.
Her favorite memory is the regional game at home against Sperry. The crowd and intensity that night made it one she’ll always remember. When looking back at one of the craziest moments she remembers a game where one of her teammates almost got into a fight with another player.
Lanie currently plays as a shooting guard, but she thinks it would be fun to try point guard someday. After high school, she plans to attend college and go to nursing school.
