Annika Kim

RECOVERY. Besides resting physical therapy is crucial in the road of recovery. Sophomore Sona Jain, who tore her ACL, said, “I always thought about what I need to accomplish first. [What I said to myself] during rehabilitation not only gave me a good mindset, but boosted my confidence.”

As junior Josh Holloway begins his school day, crutches in both hands, he spends extra time navigating through the glass doors of Huss in order to get to advisory.

Upon arrival, Holloway has two options in getting comfortable for the 10 minutes of check-in: ask for assistance from those around him or lean a crutch against the table in order to take off his backpack.

In the constant rotation of sports seasons, athletes are put to the ultimate test when unforeseeable injuries leave them benched for long periods of their seasons. As the intensity for every sports season amps up, the frequency of injuries in student athletes has also increased.

According to Denise Mann, reporter for HealthDay, the most common injuries include strains and sprains in ankles and knees, as well as head injuries, such as concussions.

These injuries most often occur in girls soccer, football, and boys wrestling.

A hockey defenseman, Holloway faced an injury to his leg after a head-on collision during a game. As a result, his knee hyper-extended, leaving his season on pause for a week before seeking further medical aid.

“There were three fractures in my knee: two smaller ones, and one on my growth plate,” he said.

Facing severe injury, volleyball captain Nadia Degnan’s injury first occurred amidst an average volleyball practice, spanning across a few days before receiving a confirmed diagnosis.

“During a warm up … I barely jumped and my leg gave out and twisted weirdly,” she said. “After multiple appointments, I found out that I had torn my ACL and meniscus and sprained my MCL.”

For soccer player Sona Jain, who suffered one of the worst injuries known to soccer players, an ACL tear, her recovery process has set her back a year.

In order to get back onto the pitch for the fall 2024 soccer season, Jain has undergone extensive physical therapy, including strength and mobility training.

“I always thought about what I need to accomplish first. [What I said to myself] during rehabilitation not only gave me a good mindset, but boosted my confidence,” Jain said.

To those facing sports related injuries Jain offers a piece of advice: “The journey is long and hard. Always think of step one and not the end because in an injury [like mine], the end will be in a year whether you move fast or slow in rehab,” she said.

While the initial impact of their injuries have left these athlete out of commission, the recovery process paves the way to their triumphant return to the game.