Freshman year, it was a normal day, Izzy Persyn was at a preseason workout. Then, while she casually backpedaling, all of a sudden she hears a pop. This pop would, unfortunately, cost her, her entire freshman season.
Persyn is a talented junior on the Lady Kingsmen soccer team. Her soccer career started when she was 4 years old, and her parents put her in soccer lessons at Soccer Zone to help her develop more coordination and fine motor skills.
“From that point on, I was really into soccer and was very talented at it. I started playing out at MSA and then eventually started playing travel, and I have stuck with it ever since,” she said.
Throughout her high school career, Persyn has faced many challenges. One was a devastating knee injury that took place the summer before her freshman season and the middle of her junior year. Junior year it was mid-game. She was midplay and just like that, unfortunately, once again, her season was over. As she began to start her recovery she was facing the mental aspect of the injury. It was hard to watch her teammates being able to do the one thing she loved most. Fortunately for her, she had an amazing support system. She had great teammates and coaches who helped her out tremendously on and off the field.
“Throughout both of my injuries, I have had the best support system from my teammates. In my freshman year, I had seniors who were there for me through everything and always willing to help me whenever I needed it. As of this year, the girls have been incredible. I think Coach Hart does a great job of making sure PGS is a family. Therefore me having this injury again, it almost feels as if the girls are going through it again as well. The girls are my best friends, and I could not ask for a better group of girls to support me,” she stated.
Not only have her teammates been so supportive but her parents have been very supportive for her as well.
“My mom and dad have been my biggest supporters throughout both of the injuries. When you have this type of injury the normal things get taken away, and both my parents have been there every step of the way to help me through that difficulty,” Persyn said. “They’re always there to tell me everything will be okay and will work out. They are also always taking time off work to be there with me, driving me to physical therapy and appointments, and pushing me to come back stronger”.
Persyn has shown a great amount of resilience and perseverance throughout these tough times. While off the field and not able to play, she would still support her teams by attending practices, games, and other things that the team may do.
“Izzy has been a constant light to everyone on the team and has been there for everyone. No matter situations, she has always made sure to be the best teammate possible at all time,” Teammate Kacey Odell stated.
As Persyn came back from her first knee injury, she had some hard patches but without a doubt she showed great perserverance and dominated her sophmore year.
“It was the best feeling I have ever felt. It was such a long road and being back doing the thing I love, felt incredible. There were still some rough times, I felt as if I wasn’t as good as before my injury. But once I got better than I was before, I felt on top of the world. There were lots of days throughout the recovery process, where I felt I would never return. So honestly coming back fully was like a dream come true,” Persyn said.
Persyn started her junior year off strong. In a rivalry game, against Marian, her season was cut short once again sadly. The next steps for Persyn will be to have another knee surgery and start rehabilitation with the hopes of playing her senior year.
