Simpson returns to court after season-ending injury

Madisen Simpson, a Louisburg High School graduate, is currently averaging nine points a game for the Hannibal-LaGrange women’s basketball team this season.

Madisen Simpson’s first year of collegiate basketball was a memorable one – that was until it was cut short due to injury.

Simpson, a 2017 Louisburg High School graduate, tore her ACL last season while planning for Hannibal-LaGrange. The road to recovery was a difficult one for Simpson, but now she is starting to see the fruits of her labor.

Now in her second season with the NAIA program out of Hannibal, Mo., Simpson is fully healthy and among one of the top players on the Trojan squad.

“The injury was difficult for me,” Simpson said. “I think it was something that I never thought would happen to me and I couldn’t imagine being off the court for 6 to 8 months. Coming back took some time, and it wasn’t the easiest. But I knew I was ready to be back, and all I had to do was push myself. Luckily, I have some amazing teammates who were by my side and my parents did everything they could for me.”

Simpson is averaging nearly nine points a contest for the Trojans and is one of the top outside shooters in the NAIA. She is currently 13^th in the nation with 26 3-point field goals made and 25^th in 3-pointers made per game.

Although the Trojans are just 2-8 to start their season, Simpson is excited to be back playing the sport she loves and watching her team grow throughout the season.

“Being back on the court is an amazing feeling,” she said. “I was counting down the days after surgery, but I think I came back a little timid, so it took some time getting used to it all again. I definitely had some things, and still do, that I need to work on. But I am glad to be back with my team again on the court.”

Simpson, who plays most of her games hours away from her hometown, will get a home game of sorts Saturday. Hannibal-LaGrange will travel to Park University on Saturday, which is only about 45 minutes away from Louisburg, and she hopes to see some familiar faces for the 1 p.m. tipoff.

“I love coming to Park and play,” Simpson said. “Being close to home is always a good feeling and I loved seeing the support from the community when I played there last year. Louisburg is so supportive and I couldn’t have asked for a better community to grow up in.”