FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A major injury like an ACL tear would prevent most from certain physical activities, even some professional athletes, but it hasn’t discouraged May’s Youth Athlete of the Month.
Emersyn Cooper injured her knee while performing a layup for her basketball team last spring. Thinking she “just pulled something,” she sat out the rest of the game.
The 16-year-old then continued playing organized sports throughout the summer of 2022 and didn’t realize the full extent of her injury until the school volleyball and beach volleyball season.
“It would sometimes give out if I landed on it, and it was really painful. I would ice it in between sets and decided to go in and get it checked out,” said Emersyn.
“I was like playing on it, and it was really swollen. But I really just wanted to play, and I didn’t really think past that.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, an ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) — one of the strong bands of tissue that help connect your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee.
In November 2022, Emersyn’s doctor told her to stop playing all sports, resulting in her missing the rest of the school season.
Jump to May 2023, following surgery in March, Emersyn is ahead of her physiotherapy plan and is determined to heal and return to the volleyball court.
Emersyn’s volleyball coach, Angela Klassen, said Emersyn is a huge part of the sport in Fort St. John for her age group.
“She is an amazing teammate, and watching her handle not being able to play this club season with integrity and determination is so impressive,” said Klassen.
Emersyn plays various sports but is very passionate about volleyball, which she has been playing since she was 12.
Her love for the sport and her teammates is what keeps her itching to get back on the court.
“I am finally able to get back into the gym, it’s not like running or jumping or anything, but I’m very happy about that. I am happy with my progress, and I’m just kinda excited to get back to training.”
Emersyn has an appointment with a surgeon in a couple of weeks to see where she is at and what she needs to do going forward in the healing process. Currently, she is looking at nine more months of recovery.
A positive coming from the injury is Emersyn started thinking about her future and potentially entering the physical therapy field.
“After surgery, having to experience all of that, I don’t know, it seems like a really good option.”
Emersyn says she would love to play volleyball at the college level if the opportunity presents itself.
Congratulations to Emersyn Cooper for being named the Northern Vision Care Youth Athlete of the Month for May
If the athlete you nominated didn’t win this month, keep nominating! The votes carry over, so keep submitting your picks for the Northern Vision Care Youth Athlete of the Month!
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