Athletes always have their biggest moments when the lights are on and they’re shining on their respective playing surfaces. But when injury strikes, that’s all taken away. This story looks into what athletes have to go through after an injury.

This year, Roseville Area High School welcomes a new athletic trainer Alisia Macioch. 

When asked about her response when a player gets injured, Ms. Macioch said, “If I see an athlete in pain at practice or in a game, I go up to them to make sure they are okay and then I fully evaluate the situation to ensure that I have all of pertinent information to make my diagnosis.” If Ms. Macioch is not present for the injury; she contacts the coach to have the player come see her for an evaluation and then proceeds to contact the player’s parents if the injury is serious.

Ms. Macioch also commented on what a players day was like rehabbing an injury, “unless it is a more serious injury where they need to sit out, I do not necessarily do treatment and rehabilitation with them face – to – face due to time restrictions. If it is an injury where I have an athlete who is partial practice or full practice … I develop and give them a Home Exercise Program to complete.” If a player has a more serious injury that requires them to miss some time, the player will meet with her for rehab during their practice until they’re able to have a Home Exercise plan. In the case of an injury requiring surgery an athlete will: “go to formal Physical Therapy with the company that provided the surgery and then I see them to re-enforce that program and those exercises.” Said Ms. Macioch.

All-Conference linebacker Mack Dungey, senior, tore his ACL and partially tore his meniscus late in the football season. 

When asked about his first reactions to when he found out about the severity of his injury Dungey said, “I was like d**m why [does] this gotta happen to me?”.

Dungey also tried to stay active and involved with his team by attending the remainder of his teams games with his jersey on on the team’s sideline.

Dungey also has had to go through physical therapy for his injury and when asked about the process answered, “rehab is not fun, physical therapy really puts you through it.”

A lesser talked about part of injuries in sports is the effect it has on an athlete mentally. Losing a season of the game you love in which you’ve worked hours upon hours to prepare for can damage one’s mental well being.

This being his senior season, Dungey had to miss the last games he’ll ever play in high school. When asked about where he is mentally after the injury, Dungey responded, “I’m here and there but it’s definitely not the same as before” said Dungey, “I just gotta keep pushing forward and think of it as a setback that will only make me stronger.”

Athletes put everything they have into their sport but injuries derail all of that. It’s a long process to come back and puts a lot of stress on the body, but perhaps even more on the mind. With the winter sports season at RAHS starting up, hopefully our athletes will be able to avoid any injuries.