How sports affect your mind and body

Sophomore Will Stroud’s worst nightmare came true in a way that would affect him his entire year on Oct. 30, 2015 . Halloween night PRHS JV boys’ football team had a game against Righetti High School and Stroud, playing wide receiver and free safety, was aggressively tackled to the ground. Stroud tried to stand up, but a shocking pain in his knee forced him back to the ground, and his knee was twisted to an unnatural angle. The doctor on the field took care of his injured knee and Will stayed to support his team before returning home. Like Stroud, most athletes think an injury like this would never happen to them, but anything can occur.

Monday, Nov. 2, he went to the doctor and found the devastating news: his ACL had been torn with a six to nine month recovery. Eighteen days later, Stroud went to the hospital to get the surgery needed to mend his torn knee. “An ACL injury is the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament—one of the major ligaments in your knee. ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops, jumping or changes in direction—such as basketball, soccer, football, tennis, downhill skiing, volleyball and gymnastics,” according to Mayo clinic.

“It is tough, but I just have to move on and make sure that I am healthy for next season”, said Stroud, knowing he can’t play as he did his freshman year on the basketball and baseball teams. However, he is still keeping up a positive attitude and hoping he can play next year.

Stroud believes that the injury has taught him things he would have never known if he had not torn his ACL.

“It has taught me to be patient and to not quit, even when you don’t feel like pushing yourself” Stroud said. He is hoping he will be ready to start back up again in May, “I’m still gonna go 100 percent and give my best effort on the field or court,” Stroud said.

The most common injury in Bearcat football is knee injuries and four athletes including Stroud tore their ACL. This includes sophomore Wyatt Gidcumb, junior Matt Horne, and senior Justin Davis in 2013.

For our Bearcats playing basketball, the most common injuries are ankle sprains, knee, and shoulder injuries. On the boys basketball team, four boys recovered from sports injuries, but the girl’s side didn’t get off as easy. Most of the team has sprained an ankle or finger. Seniors Nathalie Barahona and Gwen Lundy have had all of the common basketball injuries and the whole team has had at least one or two setbacks.

Junior Bailey Lewis received a severe sprain during her varsity girls basketball practice on Jan. 18. She jumped up for a shot during one of the drills and landed with all her weight on her left foot, which did not land flat, so it caved under her body and popped loudly, causing her teammates to look in the direction of the sound. This was Lewis’ first severe ankle sprain and she was on crutches for a whole week.

Lewis hoped to be back on the court in a week or so, but was not sure she would be 100 percent by then.

“It’s really frustrating not being able to play with them, especially because one of our previous starters was just back from an injury last night and we could have had the original starting team back,” Lewis said.

Her coaches pushed for a fast recovery so Lewis could get back on the court. She was disappointed, having gone from playing small forward to bench warmer. However, she still goes to the games to support her team.

“It’s really espousing my love for playing and the game since I’m not able to do it right now” said Lewis. Once she is able to play again, Lewis plans to play her hardest on the court for her team.

“I’ll still give it my all. I don’t really see a point in playing if you don’t,” said Lewis.“It has made me realize that there are things in life that just take time to get through.”

Her injury has taught her that not everything in this world needs to be rushed. The important things in life take time.

The key to being an athlete is learning patience, because that’s part of the whole package. People are going to get hurt, other teammates are going to be annoying, and the coaches will push athletes as far as they can go. Real athletes have the patience to play the sport, not just the skills.