By Kendall Westgate
Esprit de Corps
Eisenhower HS
1st Place Division 2, Yearbook Verbal
Sports Feature Writing
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Clear, relevant, engaging feature angle
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Story meaningfully adds to sports coverage
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar
While injuries affect day-to-day life, when an athlete can’t play their sport it affects not only them but their team.
At the football game against L’Anse Creuse North, junior corner back/wide receiver Brandon Ames intercepted the ball. He was hit in the leg during the attempt to score, resulting in a torn anterior cruciate. Ames was forced to sit out for the rest of the season, which totaled four games.
“I was carried off the field by my team. They have been there, making sure that my leg is healing correctly,” he said. “They motivate me to work out and get back to playing.”
Ames had to undergo surgery and dealt with a boot and crutches yet still manages to keep a positive mindset and hope for a better future.
“I will be proud of myself when I am back playing again because I will be able to compete again and help my team,” he said.
In another varsity football game, this time against Romeo, senior offensive guard Zachary Petkoff went to block an opponent when he heard his left leg pop. After the sound, Petkoff realized he couldn’t put any weight on it without pain.
“It sucks for me because I didn’t get to finish out my senior year. I only got to play four games,” he said.
This injury not only affected Petkoff, but also the whole team.
“I thought it was a big impact for the team because I was a two-year starter on varsity and one of the best on the line,” he said.
Also with a season ending injury, sophomore midfielder Sydney Farenger was playing a tag game at soccer practice when she tore her ACL only a month into the season.
“I would do exercises like running on a treadmill, stretching my knee out and just building strength in physical therapy,“ she said. “I struggled with getting the confidence back to try and like bend my knee and start running.”
She underwent surgery along with months of physical therapy to rehabilitate her knee.
“Just knowing that I would be able to play again is a big motivator because soccer is a big part of my life, so that really motivated me to get better as I fast I could,” Farenger said.
Season ending injuries will cause setbacks, but they also give an opportunity for comebacks.