Battle standout shaped by experiences on and off the court

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

Every team, whether it be high school or college, needs a difference maker, one person that bands the group together.

For the Battle girls basketball team, that difference maker is one player: Anna Sisson.

The senior's journey to her final season as a Spartan was by no means an easy one. Sisson made the varsity squad as a sophomore, however, that run was cut short due to a torn ACL.

"When that happened it was just like, everything went silent," head coach Michael Fernandez said.

“I was just devastated. I just didn’t know really what to think," Sisson said.

She was set to return for her junior year, however, the complications were not done yet. Due to excessive swelling in her knee, Sisson had her second surgery in January 2020.

"Kinda getting the hopes up and then getting destroyed is probably a lot on her, but she handled it well. She was at every practice, at every game," assistant coach Sammie Symonds said.

After two surgeries and nearly two seasons off the court, Sisson made it back for her senior year.

“I’m so ready to be back. I think I’ve been working so hard to be back and waiting so I’m definitely ready," she said.

Although she brings a presence to the court that Fernandez said the team needed, it was her presence off the court that really stood out.

“She just has a—a good spirit about her. Like when she’s around, things are good," Fernandez said.