Dealing with injuries as an athlete

Injuries among other things, can cause major issues with student athletes. When you're in the game and you're feeling good, all the sudden your season can be ruined in the blink of an eye. I have personally experienced this, this past season while playing against Century High School. 

Our team was on a streak and feeling good going into this game. I went through warmups, excited for another great game. We started with the ball, and had 2 solid rushes to open the game. The next play we run the ball to the left, and I get off the ball quickly. 

While blocking, one of the opponents players fell into my left knee causing it to go backwards. For any athlete, injuries are major setbacks, especially to the knee. It was my last season to play football at Winters Mill so I thought my season was over. 

Luckily there was no tear but only a very bad sprain in my LCL. The LCL connects your thigh bone to the upper part of your fibula, its main job is to keep the outer part of your knee stable. This leaves you questioning whether you played your best, you never know when your season can be taken from you. Having to sit and watch my team play during a season where we became historically successful is draining. I had often thought about giving up because in my head my season was over, but i never did.

Fast forward to the very end of the season, after 6 weeks of rehabilitation on my LCL and extensive work with our athletic trainer, I was finally able to play again. I got a chance to come back for our first playoff game. To any student athlete that is dealing with injuries heading into a season or not, never give up because you never know if you will have another chance. 

NOTE: Photo 1; Community Media Center, Photo 2; Thomas Walker Photography, Photo 3; Jamie Howard