Simone's ACL story

by Simone
(Lake Villa, IL)

I am 18 years old and a senior in high school. I have been on the varsity basketball team since I was a sophomore. All summer I had been working to be the best on my team and possibly make all conference by playing in summer leagues and going to as many camps as possible.

On September 14, 2008 I went to the gym to play a pick up game with some girls from my school. It wasn't my best game, but I wasn't playing as hard as normal because I did not want to get hurt before my season started. Well, when I got the ball I drove down the lane for a lay-up. And when I did I got hit by one of the girls on defense. When I landed my right leg was straight and I heard a popping sound and fell on the floor.

Because of the adrenaline rush I had, I didn't feel any pain and I just walked off the court. But after sitting for five minutes and then trying to walk my knee just buckled under me and I knew it was time to take a trip to the emergency room.