Addisyn Knapik

Addisyn Knapik grew up at the ballfield. She remembers running after foul balls and climbing on top of the dugout while cheering on her older brother and sister as they played baseball and softball. As much fun as that was, Knapik longed for her chance to play the game herself. Her parents signed her up for softball as soon as she was old enough.

On the field, Knapik played all over the diamond but settled in at shortstop early in her career. “I like how smooth and creative you can be at shortstop,” she said. “I’m right behind the pitcher, so I’m very connected to and involved in the game. Being able to dive for balls, lay out, and turn double plays brings a lot of energy. I feel like shortstop is the position where you can bring the most energy and make some crazy plays from the furthest distance from first. It’s by far my favorite position, and I’m happiest there.”

“Addisyn has been our starting shortstop on the varsity softball team since eighth grade—an accomplishment that speaks volumes about her talent, composure, and work ethic at such a young age,” added Head Softball Coach Caitlyn McDaniel.

Around the same time she started playing softball, Knapik also began playing field hockey with the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake youth program. She couldn’t have known at the time, but Knapik would be playing with a special group of players on this team. As she completed her career at BHBL, she was part of a field hockey team that captured three state titles.

“A big group of us were on JV together as eighth and ninth graders, and we had all played youth together,” Knapik said. “There were about six of us in that same group.”

Knapik was especially impressed with the 2025 squad, which she called “the most dominant team I’ve been on.”

“The team chemistry was insane,” she said. “We were all on the same page and worked as one unit. Being able to play with those girls I grew up with is an awesome feeling, and it shows how much bonding off the field can improve your performance on the field.”

Knowing what it meant to win as a team, Knapik was asked to play just about every position in field hockey.

“I started in eighth grade as a right back, then played left back, center forward, left mid, and this year I was center back,” she said. “When I played forward, that was probably the most fun year of field hockey. But at the beginning of this year, my coach told me we needed a strong defense to win and that she trusted me back there. I knew I had a role to fill, and I was happy going in at center back. Our team was so good that I didn’t really see the ball as much.”

As everyone knows, defensive players rarely get the same glory as their offensive counterparts, which is one reason Knapik was so honored to be named all-state this past season. As a center back, she was named first-team all-state for the first time in her career.

“That one was special for me in a different way,” she said. “I wasn’t like some of the other girls who were going to play in college or who were the main scorers, so that one was special for sure.”

“Addisyn has a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to whatever she pours her heart into,” added Field Hockey Head Coach Kelly Vrooman.

Though she’ll be hanging up her stick, Knapik’s athletic career is far from over. In the fall, Knapik will start at Binghamton University, where she’ll be a part of the softball team. As someone who’s played on some spectacular teams in her career, it’s not surprising that team chemistry was one of the reasons she chose Binghamton.

“The first time I went to their camp, I could tell how strong the team dynamic was and how much of a family they are,” Knapik said. “The coaches were a very big reason I felt so comfortable making that decision so early. They’re also ranked as one of the best SUNY schools, and that was reassuring because it’s definitely a school I would go to even if I didn’t play softball. When you go there, it’s a beautiful campus, and their softball field is gorgeous. It checked every single box for me.

An honor student and ranked sixth in her graduating class, Knapik will continue to challenge herself in the classroom at Binghampton as she pursues a degree in engineering.

“I love problem-solving, creating new ideas, and working with people,” she said. “So, when I was looking at majors, engineering felt like a no-brainer. I want to pursue something where I’m problem-solving every day and using those math and science skills to come up with new ideas, innovations, or ways to make things easier for people. I want to make a real impact on others and on what people use.”

Being named to the CDSWOY 2026 class is an amazing feeling for Knapik. “When I found out on the call, I was smiling from ear to ear the whole time. It’s such an honorable way to end my high school career. I really appreciate everyone—my athletic director and my coaches—who vouched for me and put my name in, as well as everyone involved in selecting the recipient. I had read about this award, and one of my teammates won it last year, so I know how special it is. It’s also special when you go to school or to the store and people come up and congratulate you. It’s just an amazing feeling, and I’m so honored that I was chosen for it.”