Story by: Emerson Gilmartin
Athletes at all levels are in danger of injury. No amount of preparation, warm up or skill can negate this unfortunate truth, experienced by more than 2 million high school athletes who were injured in 2014, according to the Southwest Athletic Trainer’s Association .
Fortunately, many of these injuries can be treated within the span of a few weeks. However, some injuries can be career ending and prohibit an athlete from stepping back onto the field. These athletes are forced to make decisions regarding their future, undergo treatment and often face a long recovery.
Athletes at ThunderRidge are no different.
Grizzlies are seriously injured every year, and their decisions through their path to recovery can change the way they live.
Aaron Dugan, an ex goalie for the ThunderRidge soccer team, tore his ACL in the fall of 2014. Like most who have suffered this injury, Dugan was pulled out for the season. During his recovery his ACL was re-injured, and he will not return to the field to play competitively.
“I have Physical Therapy twice a month for the next 8-9 months,” said Dugan, who is recently off his crutches.
After a Grizzly is injured, that player may start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment can range anywhere from surgery to rigorous physical therapy and can span over 9 months to a year.
Over the course of recovery, many athletes struggle with occupying themselves without their prefered sport.
“You just have to find something else to keep you busy. Find a passion and pour yourself into it. My car and offroading have become mine,” Dugan said, while showing off his car’s new lift kit.
While Dugan fights his road to recovery, other athletes plan to return to the field.
Lia Hanchett, plans to return to the pitch after coming off of a similar ACL injury. Her challenges differ as she is focused on regaining ability and strength.
“Re-injury is my worst fear as the fall season approaches. I know that I have to play more cautiously, but the fear stands regardless,” Hanchett said, “I guess I’m also worried that my skill has begun to deteriorate. Even if I come back fully recovered, I don’t want to be a bad player.”
Unfortunately this feeling is present in all injuries, big or small, and all athletes at every skill level have to deal with this.
Like Dugan’s injury, Hanchett felt that her recovery was unbearably long.
“You can’t get over the feeling that you are growing more and more out of shape. This feeling of laziness comes over you. It got to the point where I would look forward to my physical therapy sessions.” Hanchett said.
Every injury is different, and the roads to recovery can vary from athlete to athlete. There are challenges for any type of injury resulting in the absence of a player from a game, practice, match, or meet. ThunderRidge athletes offer their support and advice for any and all athletes participating on the competitive field.
“You can’t take advantage of your ability to participate in the things you love. A game, season or career can end in an instant. Make sure if it happens to you that you minimize the regret you feel if you lose you ability to participate.” Hanchett said.
“Follow the workouts given to you for recovery. Injury is a big deal, no matter how small you may think the injury is. If you have to do stretches at home, do ALL your stretches. If you have to run and lift, get in ALL your reps. Shortcuts result in a weaker recovery, the best way to recover is not to take any.” Dugan said.
In a web poll conducted by StanfordChildrens, 33 percent of season ending injuries occur when an athlete returns to the field to early. The reasons for this early return vary, however, after talking with ThunderRidge coach and counselor, Chris Smith, we learned a coach's approach to the injuries athletes face.
“The health and well-being of players always comes first. We hold each player to the highest expectation in taking care of their bodies both physically and nutritionally. We expect each player to maintain C's or better in school, and we expect them to be responsible citizens and representatives of their community. My worst fear is to see a student lose signs of any of these topics and have their athletics affected by such outcomes.” Said Smith.
Smith, however, understands that these things can happen in the course of a season. He continues to say that, “ If an injury occurs that ends that athlete's season, I always make sure to keep them involved and apart of the team, encourage them mentally and emotionally, and support any type of recovery plan their doctor and/or physical therapist dictates.”
Athletes at all levels are in danger of injury. No amount of preparation, warm up or skill can negate this unfortunate truth, experienced by more than 2 million high school athletes who were injured in 2014, according to the Southwest Athletic Trainer’s Association .
Fortunately, many of these injuries can be treated within the span of a few weeks. However, some injuries can be career ending and prohibit an athlete from stepping back onto the field. These athletes are forced to make decisions regarding their future, undergo treatment and often face a long recovery.
Athletes at ThunderRidge are no different.
Grizzlies are seriously injured every year, and their decisions through their path to recovery can change the way they live.
Aaron Dugan, an ex goalie for the ThunderRidge soccer team, tore his ACL in the fall of 2014. Like most who have suffered this injury, Dugan was pulled out for the season. During his recovery his ACL was re-injured, and he will not return to the field to play competitively.
“I have Physical Therapy twice a month for the next 8-9 months,” said Dugan, who is recently off his crutches.
After a Grizzly is injured, that player may start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment can range anywhere from surgery to rigorous physical therapy and can span over 9 months to a year.
Over the course of recovery, many athletes struggle with occupying themselves without their prefered sport.
“You just have to find something else to keep you busy. Find a passion and pour yourself into it. My car and offroading have become mine,” Dugan said, while showing off his car’s new lift kit.
While Dugan fights his road to recovery, other athletes plan to return to the field.
Lia Hanchett, plans to return to the pitch after coming off of a similar ACL injury. Her challenges differ as she is focused on regaining ability and strength.
“Re-injury is my worst fear as the fall season approaches. I know that I have to play more cautiously, but the fear stands regardless,” Hanchett said, “I guess I’m also worried that my skill has begun to deteriorate. Even if I come back fully recovered, I don’t want to be a bad player.”
Unfortunately this feeling is present in all injuries, big or small, and all athletes at every skill level have to deal with this.
Like Dugan’s injury, Hanchett felt that her recovery was unbearably long.
“You can’t get over the feeling that you are growing more and more out of shape. This feeling of laziness comes over you. It got to the point where I would look forward to my physical therapy sessions.” Hanchett said.
Every injury is different, and the roads to recovery can vary from athlete to athlete. There are challenges for any type of injury resulting in the absence of a player from a game, practice, match, or meet. ThunderRidge athletes offer their support and advice for any and all athletes participating on the competitive field.
“You can’t take advantage of your ability to participate in the things you love. A game, season or career can end in an instant. Make sure if it happens to you that you minimize the regret you feel if you lose you ability to participate.” Hanchett said.
“Follow the workouts given to you for recovery. Injury is a big deal, no matter how small you may think the injury is. If you have to do stretches at home, do ALL your stretches. If you have to run and lift, get in ALL your reps. Shortcuts result in a weaker recovery, the best way to recover is not to take any.” Dugan said.
In a web poll conducted by StanfordChildrens, 33 percent of season ending injuries occur when an athlete returns to the field to early. The reasons for this early return vary, however, after talking with ThunderRidge coach and counselor, Chris Smith, we learned a coach's approach to the injuries athletes face.
“The health and well-being of players always comes first. We hold each player to the highest expectation in taking care of their bodies both physically and nutritionally. We expect each player to maintain C's or better in school, and we expect them to be responsible citizens and representatives of their community. My worst fear is to see a student lose signs of any of these topics and have their athletics affected by such outcomes.” Said Smith.
Smith, however, understands that these things can happen in the course of a season. He continues to say that, “ If an injury occurs that ends that athlete's season, I always make sure to keep them involved and apart of the team, encourage them mentally and emotionally, and support any type of recovery plan their doctor and/or physical therapist dictates.”