It seems like just yesterday I first saw Addison and Lexi Baker playing for their 7th grade basketball team at Spring Lake. You couldn’t miss them. Fast, aggressive, and getting their team involved. It was awesome to see.

 

I wasn’t yet their coach, but I knew that I wanted to be. Thankfully, for the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with these exceptional young ladies as a trainer and travel basketball coach.

 

The dual sport athletes at Spring Lake High School play both basketball and lacrosse which they started together, at a young age.

 

“We’ve been playing basketball since 2nd grade” says Addison, “we started shooting around for fun in the driveway, but we really liked it and always wanted to get better.”

 

Get better, they have. Sophia Wiard, a basketball legend from Oakridge High School, 5-year starter at The University of Toledo, and European pro is Addison’s favorite athlete and has trained the Bakers for several years.

 

“What comes to mind when I think of Lexi and Addison is the first time they came to a camp of mine” Sophia recalls. “Quietly, they immediately went right to work. They went hard in every drill we did and no matter if they failed or succeeded, they went into the next rep just as hard which is rare! After seeing them play for multiple years and getting to know them, it’s awesome to see how they both have grown. They both love the game and are willing to put in the work to get results while always having a smile on their face.”

 

They went hard in every drill no matter if they failed or succeed… As a coach, I love that. It’s one of the things I try to teach all my players. It’s about the process, not the results. You’re going to miss, you’re going to screw up, how are you going to deal with it?

 

“Be a goldfish”, is a concept I stole from Ted Lasso that has stuck with Lexi and been one of the biggest things she’s learned about herself through playing basketball.

 

“It’s important to have a short-term memory” she says, “You need to be able to quickly forget mistakes and move on to the next play without getting discouraged”.

 

Lexi’s favorite athlete is her brother, Andrew, who plays football at Western Michigan University. Hard work is in their DNA and Andrew is grateful it’s carried on for his sisters.

 

“I think it’s an honor to be a role model for my younger sisters and somebody they look up to” Andrew says, “I love being able to set a good example and show them what hard work and determination can do.”

 

If you can’t tell, the Baker family is a driven one and all four of the Baker siblings have achieved success in athletics. Allie, a USPA 7x State Record Holder and the 2023 USPA Powerlifting National Champion is a power lifting coach at Spring Lake. She adds this about her younger sisters and their journey as a family, “Being a role model for my younger sisters has deepened my own values. Together, we’ve been able to develop discipline, perseverance, and a resilient mindset - skills that not only strengthen us in athletics, but in every challenge we face. It has been a privilege to help them develop into the strong women they have become.”

 

At the end of the day, the thing that makes me the proudest as their coach, is watching them both have fun playing games that they love. They understand sports is more about individual results, something not many players get early on.

 

“We love the teamwork that is involved in basketball and lacrosse” Lexi says, “Everyone has a role. It’s fun to see everyone come together and support each other on the field and on the court.”

 

These girls work hard in whatever they do and it has been a pleasure to be a part of their sports journey. Lexi, Addison, I am unbelievably proud of you both and grateful to have the opportunity to be one of your coaches. I can’t wait to see what’s next for both of you. Congrats on the well-deserved accolades and being named the Athletes of the Month! You both deserve it.