Shantel Norton, a senior and the captain of the Madison Lady Marlins volleyball squad, has verbally committed to play volleyball at Texas A&M at Commerce. Shantel is an explosive jumper and is gifted with a powerful arm. These attributes serve her well as the starting outside hitter for her squad.

Norton’s volleyball journey began at Woodson Middle school. There, she participated in volleyball, track and basketball. She also was designated Miss Woodson during her eighth grade year. In the Spring of Shantel’s final year at Woodson, the Southside Storm, a private AAU styled volleyball club, conducted a mini camp at the school. The coach of the Storm was impressed with Norton’s raw athletic ability and her willingness to be coached. Shantel accepted a spot on the club’s team and has been a key player for the Storm for the past four years.

According to Shantel, volleyball has not always been easy. During her first two years of club ball, she would sometimes go up to spike and miss the ball completely, or she would occasionally launch the ball all the way to the back wall of the gym. Fortunately, she had coaches who never tried to stifle her aggressiveness, but instead told her to just keep swinging. She eventually started making consistent, solid contact with the ball and learned how to control her power. Norton’s persistence has paid off with a selection to the 20-5a all district first team and with scholarship offers from numerous universities.

Tiffany Lockhart, Madison varsity coach, spoke to South Side Spotlight about Norton, “Shantel has been on the varsity team for all four years of her high school career. As team captain, she always displays a positive attitude as she encourages, inspires and motivates her teammates to keep striving for success. Shantel’s combination of hustle, killer instinct at the net, and willingness to play defense, make her a force on the court.”

Shantel is not only a standout on the court, but in the classroom as well. She is in the top 10 percent of her class and has already posted an SAT score that makes her eligible for Division 1 play. She plans on majoring in accounting at A&M and hopes to someday start an organization that will inspire and guide youth to achieve success in life.

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