In high school, some of the most interesting moments come from athletes who overcome significant challenges to achieve their highest potential. Among all student athletes are those who have faced injuries that have threatened and paused their athletic dreams, only to come back stronger than ever. These athletes have shown determination, resilience and passion throughout their recovery to come back stronger.
One such story is that of sophomore varsity soccer player Brody Schermer. This past season Schermer suffered from a few different injuries causing him to be unable to play soccer for a long period of time. Though he was out for many games, he never failed to show up and support his team the best he could.
His first injury was receiving the news that he had Pars syndrome which is a stress fracture of the bones in the lower back. One part of his vertebrae broke, so he had a technical broken back. His recovery lasted a month along with physical therapy and wearing a back brace before being able to play again with support on the back.
“At first I was scared in a sense and I wasn’t sure what it was yet so there was the fear of not knowing if I’ll be able to play sports as competitive as I am now,” said Schermer.
His second injury was mid-season playing against South-East Raleigh High School. During the game, he was cleated from behind and had his calf stomped on. This resulted in his calf being torn and having him out for the rest of the high school season and completing physical therapy.
After a long recovery and lots of strengthening therapy, Schermer was finally able to get back on the field. He continues to practice as normal and is working everyday to get stronger and improve his skills more and more.
“I feel a lot more grateful for being able to come back from two big injuries. Playing soccer again at the level I was already at before getting hurt really helped me be a lot more grateful than I used to be,” said Schermer.
Similarly, sophomore Maddox Kooistra also faced her own challenges after fracturing her tibial tuberosity and spraining her ankle at the same time. The injury put her out of dance for three months for recovery. Though she felt frustration and disappointment of being out for so long, she was also determined to get stronger and be back to dance with her friends.
Kooistra spent her recovery in physical therapy to re-strengthen all her muscles for a strong comeback. Her return has been nothing short of remarkable. Her dedication after such a long time off has helped her become a stronger dancer, helping her to push herself to her full potential.
“My injury helped me find determination and push through to work at my full potential to get better as fast as I could so I would be able to get back up on my feet and start dancing again,” said Kooistra
Schermer and Kooistra aren’t the only examples of resilience among student athletes. Across many sports and seasons, there are countless individuals who push themselves through setbacks to return to their passion. No matter the injury, these stories inspire teammates, coaches and more.
These student athletes remind us that setbacks are setups for stronger comebacks. Their stories highlight the power of resilience, proving that while injuries may pause a season, they don’t have to end their dream. In their determination, they continue to inspire all of us to rise together, no matter what obstacles we face.
