One moment, they were playing the game they loved, and the next, they were watching it from the sidelines. Injuries do not give any warnings; they just happen. For these athletes, it meant trading practices for physical therapy, game-day adrenaline for discouragement, and team huddles for doctor visits. During their time away from the game, they had to focus on learning, healing, and being a team player from the sidelines.
This spring, several wildcat athletes have suffered minor to severe injuries and had to take time away from the team they love. While watching their teammates from the sidelines, these athletes have eagerly awaited their return to the field. However, for some of them their time away might be a little more than they anticipated.
Cam Mikulsky’s story:
Cam is in his junior year on the varsity lacrosse team as a captain this season. Unfortunately, Cam’s junior season ended early. He knew something was wrong when he heard a pop come from his leg in the sixth game of the season. In the first quarter of the game, the midfielder was running down the field to stop the other team when all the sudden he fell off a non-contact hit. “I heard a pop, and there was a lot of pain,” said Cam. Previously, he had hurt his MCL, and he thought it could have been that again, “I was sad at first because if it was my MCL, I would have been out for the rest of this season,” said Mikulsky.
Unfortunately, it ended up being worse than he initially expected. Not only is Cam out for the rest of his junior lacrosse season, but he will have to watch from the sidelines for his senior soccer season, too. “I was upset when I found out that I wouldn’t be able to play my senior soccer season, but I was thankful that it wasn’t worse, and I could have been out for my senior lacrosse season too,” said Cam.
Although Cam will not be able to play sports again for at least six months, he tries to help at practices and games as much as he can. “I still help out on the bench and the sideline, and I try to help the younger players learn and get more experience so they will be able to be better,” said Mikulsky.
Cam has a long recovery ahead of him after his ACL surgery at the end of April, but if all goes as planned, he will be back to playing sports again in nine months.
Gabby Roman’s story:
Gabby is a sophomore this year and is an athlete on both the wrestling and lacrosse teams. On February 15, Gabby was given the opportunity to compete at the WPIALS Girls Wrestling Individual Championships. “I was at WPIALs and my opponent put me in a headlock, spun me, and I landed on my foot wrong,” said Gabby.
After WPIALs, she went to the hospital and got an X-ray. “They told me it wasn’t broken, so I was walking on it until lacrosse tryouts, and after the first day, I knew something was wrong,” said Roman.
After resting, she decided to try and practice and play in a game. Gabby realized that her foot was still bothering her and the MRI showed that her foot was broken in two different spots. “It was hard to accept at first because I knew I would miss most of the season, but in a sense, I was relieved because I finally knew what was wrong with my foot,” said Gabby.
Gabby was put into a boot for a month. “Having to watch from the sidelines makes me feel so disconnected from the game and my teammates. I want to contribute and share the excitement with my team,” said Roman.
After a month, she is in physical therapy for two weeks before she can play again.
Mia DiCecca’s story:
During lacrosse season, Mia started having problems running on her hip. The first time she went to the doctor, they told her she should go get bloodwork. Three years ago, Mia was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease. While she does not have it, a lasting effect from can be chronic hip pain. However, the blood work and X-ray came back clear, and she went back to trying to play lacrosse.
The morning after a lacrosse game, Mia found herself unable to walk while trying to get ready for school. “I woke up and I was in pain and I tried to go down the stairs but I couldn’t and I told my parents I couldn’t walk and they took me to the UPMC Children’s Hospital,” said Mia.
At the hospital, they did a few more X-rays, watched her do certain mobility stretches, and observed how she walked. The doctors ended up ordering an MRI while they were there to hopefully find out what was causing the pain.
After what felt like weeks for Mia to figure out what was wrong, she finally got her MRI results. “They told me I had a hip strain, which is where the tissue that holds the joint and the bone together tears,” said Mia.
The hip strain required Mia to be on crutches for two weeks before she could walk on it again.“I was really devastated knowing that I would lose a lot of mobility and that I was going to miss more than half the season,” said Mia.
After two weeks, she was able to bear weight to 75% and started physical therapy for three weeks until she was completely healed.
“I am glad I can be back on the field to support my teammates,” said Mia.
Injuries may have taken these athletes off the field temporarily, but they have not taken away their passion, determination, or love for the game.
