It was a typical summer RCS game day in senior Zo Schultz’s mind, as she walked onto the soccer field in Grand Haven. Little did she know that one game would affect the rest of her high school athletic career.  

“I tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus in my knee,” Schultz said. “But I am staying pretty positive, though I unfortunately cannot play any sports at the moment.”  

Estimated by the Southwest Athletic Injury Association, Shultz’s Triple Triad injury is only one of the two million injuries that occur yearly in high school athletes. Physical therapist assistant Erica Miller, has had two and half year of experience, two years at ATI, and gave information about sport related injuries.

“Some of the most common injuries is any kind of sprain or strain to either the ankles, wrists or knees,”  Miller said.

Athletic injuries can be caused by any overuse of muscles or level of impact on joints. However, learning prevention techniques can be highly critical to a young athlete’s safety.

“A lot of athletes that play sports nowadays, [and] there is no period beforehand for strengthening,” Miller said. “They go from one sport to the next. They do not do any sort of weight-training or strengthening. Without a having a good general tone to those muscles, before you jump into that activity or sport, you can cause a lot of injuries because your joints are not as stable, your muscles are not as strong and they are not ready for that high level of impact.”

Senior Alex Grabowski also has experience with an injury.

“I got injured in the first football game and I sprained my ankle when I was getting tackled,” senior Grabowski said.  “It was hard to bounce back from it. My ankle isn’t 100 percent as it used to be, and it’s a lot of work with rehab.”

Not only can injuries be difficult for the athlete to overcome, but also for the team as a whole; injuries to valuable players can affect the season’s record.

“I look at our girls soccer team, for instance, which should be one of the top teams in the state. We have a Division 1 player, Zo Schultz, and she is phenomenal athlete and one of the leader on the team,” athletic director Mr. Luke Beach said. “And obviously, you are looking at a team that could make it to the state championship, but you are now missing someone who is very integral to their success.”

Miller has advice for student athletes to avoid injuries that can impact short-term and long-term wellness.

“Try not to over exert yourself,” Miller said. “You know your body best. You have to listen to your body. If it is telling that it is not right, then it probably is not right.”