Valliant senior Ainsley Trapp has her future in one sport but doing what she can to support her other major sport. She was part of Valliant’s 23-4 basketball team that made it to the state tournament last year, but her true love is on the softball diamond.

“When I was young growing up in Rattan, I was all about softball. And then when I moved to Valliant my junior year, I got more serious about basketball. But I’ve signed to play softball at Murray State for college.”

With several players lost from last year’s team, coach Patrick Nix is glad that Ainsley is back. 

“She’s a great kid and a good leader,” said Nix. “She leads by example by always being to practice early and doing the little things that really help me out.”

This year Trapp is being asked to move from shooting guard to point guard and she says it’s taken some getting used to.

“It’s been kind of tough to make the move. It’s way different. Last year I was the one standing in the corner waiting for someone to pass me the ball. Now I have to learn to move around more to get an open shot or find an open teammate. It’s not as easy as it looks,” laughed Trapp. 

Academics are also important to Ainsley who is having to work extra hard to achieve one of her goals to be the class valedictorian.

“At Rattan, I was right at the top of the class with one guy but there you couldn’t take AP classes until you were a junior. So here at Valliant I’m having to double up on AP classes this year to catch up with those who were able to take AP classes earlier.”

Her goals athletically for her senior year are simple.

“In basketball I want to be the best I can be for the team and to be a good leader in basketball and softball,” said Ainsley who is in the National Honor Society.

Trapp says she plans to study physical therapy at Murray State while playing softball.