How many words can you say in a split second? Our brains are able to send crazy fast signals to other parts of the body in less than a split-second. However, it’s not always that we are able to actually execute these actions in such a limited amount of time. This minuscule fragment of a second can stand between you and the game winning play, or be the reason for a serious injury. Nothing fun comes out of an injury, especially for an athlete. Some injured Warriors that have experienced an injury during their season grapple with the physical and mental toll it takes on them.

Many athletes struggle when healing from an injury, both physically and mentally. Watching the days slip away without being able to play the sport that they love can take a toll on the mental state of these injured athletes. Three Curtis student-athletes explained how they felt battling through their sport-related injury as well as sharing advice with other athletes who may be in the same position.

David Salazar, a center lineman on the Curtis Varsity Football team injured his knee halfway into his senior season. He tore an inner tendon of his knee known as the MCL which denied him the ability to play for roughly eight games. “I tore my right MCL. The MCL is the inner tendon on your knee. I got hurt when my knee and another kid’s knee made contact in a play.” Injuries to these athletes is a detrimental thing especially when it’s in the middle of the season, taking time away from their games and landing them out of commission for weeks. Recovery is an arduous process, including the rehab it requires, as said by Salazar, “I was on crutches for a while and had to wear a brace for a few months. I didn’t need surgery but I needed to do a lot of rehab.” To deal with injury, Salazar recommended a plethora of tips “I would advise other athletes to keep their heads up and not let it bring them down….take rehab and getting better as seriously as possible.” These tips made it possible for Salazar to participate in his three playoff games.

Defensive end Kristian Fenton, another player on the Curtis Varsity Football Team suffered a knee bone contusion, resulting from a heavy impact to the knee. The second half of Fenton’s senior season was hard, “I couldn’t help my team in the big games.” Fenton advises other athletes to really play every game or moment like its your last, explained that you never know what will happen. This injury cut Fenton’s season. He could only watch his teammates play in these games.  “Physically I couldn’t run or squat and I got a lot weaker in my legs. Mentally I thought football was over for me and I’d never put on cleats again.” Similarly to Salazar, Fenton also recommends “take recovery seriously and train your joints to be mobile to prevent as much injury as possible.”  Fenton also made it back for the playoffs.

Amira Johnson a point guard for the girls varsity basketball has had a couple of injuries that have  put a stop to her sports career. She dislocated  her right shoulder and a fractured her right ankle. These hindrances left her on the bleachers for a month and in physical therapy for twice the amount of time. Johnson dislocating her shoulder forced her to miss her entire junior season, college opportunities, along with watching the playoffs from the side line. The advice she brought for future and current athletes is “to never take playing the sport you love for granted because it can be taken away so fast. I had two injuries that prevented me from playing the sport I love and it was mentally draining but I appreciate what the adversity  taught me. I know now in life that whatever happens I’II never quit.”