Warner High School’s Ella LaBounty
Warner junior Ella LaBounty is quickly becoming one of the most versatile athletes in the state. She stars in softball, basketball and track and field, and she does it all while planning a future career helping other athletes. Guided by parents who taught her to work hard for what she loves, LaBounty has built a reputation as a competitor who embraces challenges and stays poised under pressure.
On the track, LaBounty competes in the 4×100 relay, discus and shot put, recently hitting a personal record of 35 feet, 6 inches in the shot. She said the performance meant even more because she has not been able to practice much due to slow-pitch softball. “It was kind of crazy because I have not gotten to practice much because of slow-pitch, so it was really cool to see my time in the gym pay off,” LaBounty said. She loves knowing her teammates “always have my back and they are the best cheerleaders,” and she spends her downtime at meets doing what she enjoys most, cheering them on in their events.
Softball remains her primary sport, where she plays pitcher and utility and helped lead Warner to its first state tournament appearance in school history, a season in which she also led the state in strikeouts. “This season our state qualifying was the first in school history for softball, and I led the state in strikeouts,” she said. “Those are some really big moments for me that I will always remember.” She said the toughest part of pitching is keeping her mental game in check, so at the plate she simplifies her approach: look for her pitch, drive it and visualize what she wants to happen.
LaBounty also plays small forward in basketball, where she must know multiple spots on the floor, which she admits can be challenging. Away from competition, she enjoys playing softball, reading and spending time with her puppies. Her favorite subject is English, and she credits her freshman English teacher, Ms. Bible, as a favorite. She hopes to play softball at the next level and eventually earn a doctorate in psychology to become a sports psychologist, carrying with her the belief that failure does not define you — how you respond to it does.
