When you talk to Addi Durant, a 2027 midfielder at Manatee High School, one thing is clear. Her journey in lacrosse has never just been about goals. It has been about growth, culture, and learning how to lead.

From Backyard Practices to a New State

Addi’s introduction to lacrosse started early.

“I started with lacrosse in, I believe it was second grade,” she said. “My brother played lacrosse because his buddy did it, and then I would join all his practices. I was like, well, my older brother’s doing it, so why don’t I do it?”

At the time, she was still living in Texas. When her family moved to Florida around fifth grade, she found a new lacrosse home with the Manatee Wildcats. By seventh grade, something shifted.

“I started really falling in love with the sport,” she said. “I was having a lot of fun, and my teammates were awesome. It was just like a big family. I was like, well, I want to be serious about this.”

That seriousness eventually led her to IMG Academy.

Learning Culture at IMG Academy

IMG is known nationally as a destination for serious athletes. For Addi and her family, the decision came down to people more than prestige.

“My mom was kind of on edge about sending me to IMG,” Addi explained. “But we went on a campus tour and met Coach Shannon and Coach Ali. My mom was like, these are the coaches. She says it to this day, I would not have sent you there if it weren’t for Coach Shannon.”

Addi spent eighth and ninth grade immersed in a high-performance environment. While her skills improved, the biggest lessons went beyond stick work and conditioning.

“I got better at lacrosse when I went there, but a big part of it was being a good teammate and being coachable,” she said. “Shannon leads that program with ‘root for each other.’ I think that is a big part of the athlete that I am now.”

That culture left a lasting mark.

“The way that program was based on root for each other, build each other up, be a good teammate, be a good leader. All of those things we learned there.”

Choosing Joy Over Pressure

After two years at IMG, Addi made the decision to return home to Manatee High School for her sophomore year.

The choice was both personal and practical.

“I was hanging out with older kids, and I was getting influenced,” she said. “My mom thought it would be a better idea for me to just go back to Manatee.”

There was another factor, too.

“Playing lacrosse every day, you have to be at practice every day. It sort of felt like a job in a way. I was dreading practice. I’m better at doing things if I have the choice to do it.”

Back at Manatee, the game became hers again.

“Now I get up, and I train, and I go to practice because I want to.”

Stepping Into a Leadership Role

Last season, the Hurricanes were led by a strong senior class, including Grace Knowles, now playing at the University of Charlotte. Addi’s role was important but shared.

This year, everything changed.

“We graduated 11 seniors, and now this year we have one senior,” she said. “I knew I could be a leader, and I knew that if I worked hard, I could get a lot better and fill the position of people who left.”

There wasn’t a formal meeting declaring her “the girl.” Instead, she felt the responsibility naturally.

“I just kind of got the incentive that I did need to step up as a player and as a teammate. So that’s what I did.”

That leadership showed immediately.

A Nine-Goal Night

In the season opener against Parish Community, Manatee secured a 20 to 10 win. Addi delivered a statement performance with nine goals and one assist, totaling 10 points on 15 shots.

When she scored her first three goals and completed her first hat trick, she felt it.

“Yeah,” she said when asked if she knew it was going to be a big night.

She was in a rhythm, shooting instinctively and confidently. It was the type of performance that reflects preparation meeting opportunity.

Still, she understands that individual success has to align with team chemistry.

“Our chemistry is not bad,” she said. “But I think one thing we need to work on is rooting for each other and not getting jealous of each other.”

She noticed the mixed emotions on the sideline.

“I did have a lot of my teammates that were super excited for me. But then also some girls were not playing super great, so they were a little frustrated.”

For Addi, the focus remains on building a culture where everyone thrives.

Confidence in the Next Wave

As a rising leader, Addi is also quick to spotlight her teammates. One name she emphasized is Sophia Reynolds.

“She is a sophomore and she’s doing really good,” Addi said. “She’s a lefty, and she’s not scared to go to goal. That’s really important.”

Addi admitted that as an underclassman, she sometimes hesitated.

“I felt bad a lot as an underclassman. I didn’t want to go to goal. I wanted to give the ball to this girl because I knew she was going to go to goal.”

Now, she sees a different mindset in the younger players.

“She’s not scared to do the thing. And she looks like she’s having fun up there too.”

Embracing a Tough Schedule

The Hurricanes face a demanding stretch early in the season, including matchups with Lakewood Ranch, Cardinal Mooney, IMG Blue, CSN, and Bradenton Christian.

For Addi, the challenge is necessary.

“I don’t necessarily think we should just be playing a bunch of teams that aren’t as strong,” she said. “You start to do things that you can’t do in other games, and it becomes habit.”

She understands that back-to-back tough games can test confidence, but she believes competition is essential.

“I think it is good to have competition, but we also need to get to a place where we can compete with some of these teams.”

The Evolution of an Athlete

From a second grader following her brother to practice, to a national academy athlete, to a leader back at her neighborhood school, Addi Durant’s journey is still unfolding.

Her story is about more than nine goals in one night. It is about choosing joy, embracing leadership, and building a culture where teammates truly “root for each other.”

And if the season opener is any indication, she is just getting started.