The Break
The last two weeks have been a bit of a crazy ride for me. I’ve had a lot of new experiences. Some were expected, however, some were not. Let me elaborate. It’s been my dream for a while to play Division One NCAA soccer. I finalized those plans last year when I accepted a scholarship to play for Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. It is such an honor to be able to call myself a Division One athlete, and I’m very thankful for this opportunity.
I prepared all summer for the demands I would have to meet come August 4th when preseason training started. I felt that I was ready. Leaving was very difficult, I was headed towards the unknown without my family that had been by my side for the past 17 years. Not only did I not know what it was going to be like away from home, but I had no idea what exactly was in store for me.
The rigors of D1 athletics were immediately exposed the first morning of training on the 4th, but my summer preparation proved itself as I passed the 2 mile fitness test. Everything was falling into place like I had dreamed of. I loved the team, the school, and everything in between.
A couple of days later on the 6th I felt some pain in my right foot. I didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t that bad. I told my athletic trainer anyways, just to be safe. He was kind of concerned when I told him because of the specific spot on my foot that I complained about. He told me to keep him updated on it. The next day after training, the pain was a lot worse. I iced it that night and the next morning it felt alright to play on. I warmed up as usual that morning in training and played through the slight pain that I felt. Within an hour of training my foot was still sore but I was still able to play on. I sprinted for a ball that was going out of bounds and bam.. the worst pain I’ve ever felt shot through my foot and up my leg.
I fractured the 5th metatarsal in my right foot. The area on the foot that I fractured my bone doesn’t receive a lot of blood. Unless I had surgery, there was a chance that the bone wouldn’t heal correctly.
