Athletes don’t start a game thinking it’ll end in them needing surgery, physical therapy or out of the sport completely. The wrong move takes them by surprise. 

One of the most common injuries in sports is a knee injury. Tearing, pulling or breaking something in an athlete’s knee can really affect their mindset towards their sport. 

“I tore my ACL and dislocated my kneecap,” junior Makale Rachal said. “I was playing football, and someone took a low blow to my knees. It took a toll on my body; it showed me that I couldn’t play anymore.” 

Injuries can be traumatic and leave behind mental scars. Other athletes might have different motives to continue despite the scare of the injury. 

“I got a torn tendon in my ankle and an ACL sprain,” senior Braxton White said. “Playing a sport is more than one person, and I knew the team needed me, so I just decided to think about everybody else and just keep going.”

Recovery to come back to the game can be a long process that to some is worth it. 

“I went through six months of physical therapy three times a week, and then I continued to have pains and [knee] popping,” sophomore Natalie Taylor said. “They said that I should be back on the field in six months so I’m going to try again. I haven’t played in two years, and [it’s] a long process.” 

The game athletes love could be worth putting their bodies at risk again. Injury isn’t a dealbreaker for everyone, but for some, it’s the best decision. 

“It is frightening knowing that you can’t play the sport you love anymore,” Rachal said.