Photo by Annie Smith

Junior soccer team captain Alexis West prepares to kick the ball during the Tigers’ game against Nacadoches on Feb. 11, 2025. Throughout the course of her high school career, West injured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus, benching her for most of the year.

For Texas High School junior Alexis West, soccer proves to be much more than a game. Soccer is a passion, an identity and a sport she dedicates years of hard work to. But in her desire to get a shot on goal, under those bright stadium lights, that passion turned into heartbreak—again.

During a routine play in the second half of the Tigers’ district matchup against Mount Pleasant, West sprinted down the field, ready to take on the defender one-on-one. Her knee buckled as she planted her right foot to make a sharp cut. A sharp, familiar pain shot through her leg, and before she could even hit the ground, she knew.

“At first I felt horrible about tearing everything again,” West said. “But once it happened and I wasn’t in denial anymore, I realized that it’s just a setback that I can come back from.” 

For the second time in three years, West had torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and meniscus. The first injury, suffered during her freshman year, sidelined her for nearly a year. She endured surgery, grueling rehabilitation and countless hours of physical therapy just to make it back onto the field for her senior season. Now, it felt like she was back to square one. 

“The biggest struggle has been getting the confidence to believe in myself again,” West says, “But I am most excited to walk normally again.” 

The crowd fell silent as trainers rushed onto the field. Her teammates huddled around, some fighting back tears, knowing their captain’s road ahead would be long and painful.

West’s injury remains a devastating blow not only for her but for the entire Texas High soccer program. She leads as the heart of the team and a leader both on and off the field. The signs point to another season-ending injury—one that will require another surgery and another long rehab process.

Despite the setback, West’s determination to keep fighting will be her driving force as she heals. She believes this injury will not be the end of her high school career and intends to come back her senior year. 

“I’m playing soccer after I’m back,” West said. “I’ve spent too long playing soccer to let an injury determine how it ends.”