After a long road to recovery, several fall athletes who were injured last season are looking to make an impact for their respective teams however they can.
Women’s soccer defender Reagan Seelhorst (junior) said the heartbreak of injury struck last fall.
“I [had] just started practice and took one wrong step 30 minutes in, completely noncontact,” Seelhorst said.
Seelhorst said she was injured Aug. 17 of last year, tearing her ACL and her lateral and medial meniscus. Seelhorst said her injury took her out for more than a year, having just returned to play Sept. 6 of this year against Soka University, a contest in which she played 19 minutes.
Seelhorst said many of her teammates have also had similar injuries, which has allowed them to help her through her own injury.
“Surgery was definitely nerve-wracking,” Seelhorst said. “But I was glad that I had a lot of people to rely on.”
According to Seelhurst, recovering from injury has shown her how much she enjoys the game.
“I think being on the sidelines really showed me how much I missed playing and how much I missed being part of the team,” Seelhurst said.
Seelhurst also said the connections she built with her teammates while hurt have translated to the field this year, and that community is key for athletes going through the recovery process.
“I definitely would [suggest] to rely on teammates and rely on family,” Seelhorst said.
Volleyball outside hitter Maggie Adams (sophomore) also said her team has battled against injury this season.
“I think it’s showing how strong we are as a team,” Adams said.
Adams said she is currently recovering from a dislocated right patella she suffered at the start of the season. Adams said she appreciated the steadfast support of her teammates.
“They’ve been always asking me and other people who are injured for updates,” Adams said.
Adams said her injury has both improved her mental strength and turned into a tactical advantage when she gives advice to her team during the game.
“I’ve been focusing on the mental side of the game,” Adams said.”I think it’s key to be vocal.”
Adams said the perspective from off the court allows her to look at the game differently, a perspective that will help her when she returns.
Men’s water polo goalkeeper Jack Schroeder (senior) said he has dealt with a condition called trochlear dysplasia throughout much of his life. He said the condition was the reason he started playing water polo after he wasn’t able to continue playing football.
“I was pretty traumatized by having to relocate my own knee a couple times a month,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder said he went through with knee surgery last December and returned to play in April.
“I’ve been wanting to get surgery for a long time,” Schroeder said. “But I held out due to wanting to continue playing for Oxy.”
Schroeder also said he will return to the pool with the lessons he learned from his recovery.
“Patience is a virtue,” Schroeder said. “You can’t expect everything to be perfect as soon as you hit the date your doctor claims you’ll be back to play.”
Schroeder also said his team has been key to his recovery.
“Stay connected with your community and close friends on the team,” Schroeder said. “At the end of the day, they’re who you’re working for.”
Contact Whittaker Perrin at wperrin@oxy.edu
