WHSSports September 14, 2018
Volume 55 Issue 1
Upcoming Events Girls Varsity Tennis: Tuesday, September 18, at 4:45 pm vs Maine East Girls Varsity Volleyball: Wednesday, September 19, at 6:15 pm at St. Viator Boys Varsity Soccer: Thursday, September 20, at 6:30 pm at Palatine Photos Taken By Alexis Knight
2018 Varsity Friday Football Games, Themes 9/14 Vernon Hills @ HOME: USA 9/21 Buffalo Grove @ HOME: Neon 9/28 Elk Grove @ AWAY: Camo 10/5 Rolling Meadows (HOMECOMING) @ HOME: Black Out 10/12 Prospect @ AWAY: Pink Out 10/19 Hersey @ AWAY: Tidal Wave
Road to Recovery: Staniszewski’s return to volleyball after dual ACL tears By Giuliana Geati Associate Editor-in-Chief
Photo Taken By Giuliana Geati
Courtesy of Kamila Staniszewski
Top: Kamila Staniszewski, senior, dives for a ball during her first game back after recovering from two ACL surgeries. Bottom: Staniszewski recooperates after her second knee surgery in two years.
Grit is known to be a determining factor between a champion and a participant. If achieving academic success while holding a top position on a varsity sport isn’t enough to show that grit, coming back from two ACL tears is. Kamila Staniszewski, senior, is top ranked according to her coach after two career ending injuries and bouncing back to the varsity girls volleyball court. After tearing both ACLs in the span of two years, Staniszewski debuts her return to her team for her final season of high school. “It was pretty difficult to stay away from the game after losing muscle in my knees after surgery and six months of rehab. I couldn’t do anything to prevent it because of my loose ligaments so I still would have eventually tore both ACLs. I don’t think I’ll be able to play like I did before, but I want to try my best for my team and senior year,” Staniszewski said. After tearing her right ACL two years ago in January, her junior year season was already halfway over by the time of her return. After
several surgeries and months of physical rehabilitation, Staniszewski’s junior year season ended with her playing on the court, but little did she know that her senior year would not start the same way after tearing her left ACL in February. “I’m excited to play with my team again. It’s really important to everyone (on the team) to get as far as possible in the season and playing as well as we can as a team,” Staniszewski said. Staniszewski isn’t the only one ready for her return to the court. Jason Kopkowski, varsity girls volleyball coach, awaits her leadership to take action. “Since the beginning of the season, she’s been present although not medically cleared to play. Her leadership and phenomenal abilities sets her apart from others. What will make her a good leader is how she plays. She plays with intensity and positivity and plays hard. When one player starts to play hard, it’s really easy for all of her teammates to follow her. Her natural ability and strength is remarkable and her natural skills are better than average,” Kopkowski
said. Although her MCL is still in recovery, Staniszewski was cleared to return on Thursday, September 6th, after missing almost three weeks including eleven games of her final season in high school. “It’s just a matter of time before I’m back to feeling one hundred percent. I will look ridiculous wearing my braces on both of my knees, but I’m just excited to be back,”
Staniszewski said. To her teammates, time has stood still in awaiting Staniszewski’s return to the court in order to contribute more success for the team. “Kam never left. She’s the type of teammate that is always there. Kam has always been there for the team and to have her back is nothing new. She is a part of our team. Honestly, having her back means more dubs,” Ellie Welter, senior, said.
Photo Taken By Giuliana Geati
During a match, Kamila Staniszewski, senior, leaps up in excitement after a successful rally. In her first game back after being cleared for play, the Wildcats came from behind to win their first conference match of the season 25-27, 25-7, 25-13 against the Prospect Knights.