Last week was an eventful time for Owensboro High School athletics, as Connor Cundiff and Abby Sapp both signed their commitment letters to compete at the collegiate level. Cundiff will be taking his soccer talents to Brescia University, while Sapp will be playing basketball at Spalding University.
A four-year varsity member, Cundiff helped the Red Devils win two 9th District titles and a 3rd Region championship title, reaching the second round of the State Tournament this past fall. Originally focused on attending college solely for academics, his spark to play at the collegiate level was reignited a few months ago after hearing from Brescia’s coach.
“I have grown up in Owensboro my entire life, and Brescia is half a mile from my house,” Cundiff said. “It is a really easy location in general, and I have been involved with Brescia and the entire community in Owensboro. So, it was a perfect choice for me. I couldn’t think of a better college that would have been better for me.”
Cundiff spoke with multiple school’s but was quickly won over by not only Brescia’s soccer program, but also their biology department.
“I also got a tour of the biology department, which is what I am going to major in,” Cundiff said. “I thought that was really good, because that gave me the idea that they also really emphasize their academics, which is something I value a lot.”
Transferring to Owensboro in the spring of her freshman year, Sapp played three seasons with the Lady Devils – helping them win a 3rd Region Championship in 2024. This past season she led the team in scoring with 12.4 points per game and averaged 4.1 rebounds per game.
During her recruitment process, Sapp was focused on finding a school that was close to home, had a positive environment, and the campus was on the smaller side. Spalding checked all of the boxes.
“We started a conversation and were discussing what I was looking for in a college, and it went pretty well,” Sapp said. “I decided to take a visit, and I saw the gym and watched a game. It fit all of the aspects I was looking for.”
During the Lady Devils run to the State Tournament, Sapp realized she could play against the top talent in the state and began to focus on reaching the collegiate level. She started working with a trainer two to three times a week, splitting time in the weight room and the gym.
With a few months before she arrives at campus, Sapp plans to spend the summer focusing on polishing her individual skills.
“I want to work on my handles and my shooting,” Sapp said. “I want to get a lot of reps in this summer. I also need to work on getting faster and stronger. Playing at the college level is going to be different than playing high school, which is what I am used to. So, I just want to get myself prepared as much as possible.”
In the classroom, Sapp plans to pursue a path in business.
