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Plainfield N. senior makes most of her opportunity
By dylan budd For the Bugle
Plainfield North senior Sam Fontanez took a deep breath. With a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in her braced, wrapped right leg, she toed the line, serving first for the Tigers on her senior night in front of a roaring crowd. When she scored the first point, the Plainfield North student section rocked in the stands, but the cheers only got louder and louder with each point. In a match that is only played to 25, Fontanez scored an incredible 21 unanswered points for her team. “I was so excited to have the opportunity to serve, but I also was really nervous,” Fontanez said. “It was my first game this year, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself on senior night. I just wanted to make it over the net.” Her streak played a massive role in the Tigers’ dominant 25-3, 25-7 win over Joliet Central. “The win was an amazing feeling,” senior captain Ella Strausberger said. “The atmosphere was a lot of fun, and it’s always big to win late in the season.” Fontanez tore her ACL at the second practice of her senior season. With her MRI showing that it almost fully tore, and she would need surgery to replace it, the season was over for
Fontanez before it started, as was her Tiger career – or so she thought. “It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve gone through,” Fontanez said. “It’s tough to go to every practice and game and not be able to play, but I try and make the best of it.” She was able to make the best of her lone opportunity to get on the floor. While she may not be on the court most of the season, she still has been a huge contributor for North, and her teammates have noticed. “Sam has always been there for every practice and game, and keeps us positive,” senior libero Cassidy Clinton said. “No matter what, she is there to cheer us on and support us in every way possible. She is also able to tell us things that we might not be able to see on the court.” Fontanez plans to get back on the court after she recovers, but for now, she can look back on the memory with pride of getting to contribute on her senior night and “I’ve never been in an atmosphere like that in my 13 years of playing,” Fontanez said. “It was surreal. The support from my family, teammates, coaches and fans made it like no other.” The Tigers saw the season come to a close with a 25-15, 25-20 loss to Joliet Catholic Academy in the regional semifinal on Oct. 24.
photo by dylan budd
Sam Fontanez serves one of her 21-consecutive points in her only game all season. Fontanez, a senior, tore her ACL before the season, but came out to serve on senior night and made the most of it.