Getting over the mental hurdle

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

Injuries can sure take a toll.

They can take a toll on an athlete’s body as the injuries mount up. They can also take a toll on an athlete mentality. All a spectator sees is the physical side of the injury. They hope their favorite player can get back on the field as quick as possible to help the team out.

What know one sees is what an athlete has to go through to get back on the field. The grueling rehab that takes place so many times a week. It can be draining on an athlete both physically but more mentality.

Doubts starts creeping in as they wonder if they will ever get back to the way things were before the injury, especially if it’s a mager injury. As they go through the rehab process there are days they don’t want to be there.

They don’t want to keep fighting the good fight, as they don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Avery Mondoux never had a major injury during all the years she has been playing soccer. While she has had some bumps and bruises during her playing career, Mondoux had largely escaped the injury bug.

Until last year.

The then sophomore was entering her second year at Nicholls, and was looking to build on a very successful freshman season. That’s when it all came crashing down. Mondoux felt something go in her knee, and the rest was history.

She didn’t have time to reflect on a missed season, a missed opportunity. She didn’t know what to think at that moment in time. She was just in a state of shock.

“When I first tore my ACL, obviously I did not know the extent of the injury in the moment. However, I knew that it was serious. I did not have time to really reflect on the nature of the injury as my teammates and coaches were huddled around trying to comfort and pray for me during a very difficult moment,” stated Mondoux. “I was in a state of shock and had no idea how to control my feelings at the time. It was hard for me to accept that I had truly experienced this. I wished I was dreaming. This kind of injury is one of those that you see occur frequently to others but don't truly believe it will happen to you until it happens.”

Her season was over, but not her career. Many have returned just as strong, if not stronger, from an ACL injury. For Mondoux is was time for the recovery. She knew it was going to be a long, and grueling, process to get back to the player she was.

She knew rehab was going to be no joke. Mondoux knew it was going to be baby steps. Being the competitor that she is it was going to be tough. She wanted to get back on the field yesterday, not so many months from when it happened.

Her trainers did a good job at setting little goals for her. Each milestone reached meant she was getting that much closer to joining her teammates on the field.

“Rehab is extremely taxing mentally and physically. I really enjoy my trainers and PT professionals as they have pushed me to my limits. I can see the milestones that they have helped me achieve along the way,” stated Mondoux. “These small victories have continually fueled my rehab journey. During this process, I've discovered that this injury won't recover in a week, so it's better to take things day by day. I now know how to trust the healing process and to exercise patience. It's undeniably been the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, but I have faith that everything will work out in the end.”

But, let’s be honest. Mondoux knew she was reaching those small goals, but it was still hard. It was still hard for her to be on the table doing her rehab, instead of running around with her teammates on the pitch.

For the first time in her life, Mondoux felt powerless. For the first time since she was a little girl on Grand Island, Mondoux wasn’t going to be kicking a soccer ball. She wan’t going to be part of the team, going through the same battles as her teammates were going through.

Mentally, she was at the lowest point she had ever been.

“For the first time in my life, I felt powerless. Being told that I tore my ACL and that I was about to begin a year long recovery process, truly hit me hard. Mentally, I was at the lowest that I have ever experienced. The first few weeks after surgery was definitely the toughest. Being stuck in bed, not being able to move or go anywhere truly made me so depressed,” explained Mondoux. “Even though it was difficult to escape, I was able to do so as the healing process went on. I made an effort to ignore the fact that I wouldn't be able to play for a while. I shifted my competitive nature to the rehab settings. I told myself that everyday is an opportunity to make progress and get closer to that first moment back on the field.”

Mondoux was poised to have a breakout season for Nicholls. Like most freshman, it took Mondoux a little while to get her feet wet. She was still trying to figure out where she belonged on the roster, and rotation.

As the season went on, however, you could see the old Mondoux starting to come back. The one that was dominating opposing teams while she played for Grand Island. She was creating more and more chances as they season went on.

That’s why when she tore her ACL it was that more frustrating. The junior had finally rounded into form and was ready to tale her game to the next level.

“Recognizing that I was at my best when I tore my ACL was one of the worst aspects of the injury. To be the best I could be in my sophomore year, I worked harder than I had ever done during the past summer,” stated Mondoux. “I want to not only get back to where I was but go far beyond this to help my team succeed. I know what I am now capable of. This period of recovery has allowed me to focus on parts of my game that I may have neglected when I was on the field training daily. My individual performance level is only impactful if it helps my team succeed on the field.”

The one thing she did accomplish is scoring her first collegiate goal. Mondoux was starting to create more chances, but the ball just wouldn’t find the back of the net. She was getting the same opportunities that she would score on when she was at Grand Island.

Finally, when the ball did go in the back of the net, Mondoux was more relieved than happy. She realized, however, that she could score at the Division I level, which makes her even more determined than before.

“It was a long time coming! I was creating chances consistently, but when the moment finally came, it was more of a relief than joy,” stated Mondoux. “Now that I know I am capable of scoring goals at the Division I level, it has made me determined to score more!”