After a devastating injury and a long recovery, Sienna Smith has climbed her way back to the spot of Penn Girls Soccer’s star underclassman. Current sophomore, Smith has returned to playing after tearing both her ACL and meniscus during club season.
Smith had been awaiting high school soccer her whole life. As a freshman JV star, Smith helped her team execute a nearly perfect record. With only one loss, the JV Girls Soccer team had one of the best groups they had seen in years. Smith aided the team by delivering a plethora of goals throughout the season. In the end, she was gifted the position of a post-season varsity spot. Ecstatic and honored, Smith had the opportunity she had always dreamed of.
Penn’s state run didn’t make it as far as hoped, but Smith was still overjoyed from her successful season. As most fall athletes do, Smith played club soccer in the spring. During a scrimmage for her club, she planted her leg wrong. From that one wrong move, she tore her ACL and meniscus, along with a partial MCL and PCL tear. Within a few moments, her soccer future had faded to oblivion.
“My recovery process was very hard,” Smith says. “The surgery took my tendon from the opposite knee to replace my ACL, which meant I was rehabbing both knees.”
Two weeks after surgery, she was able to walk without crutches. However, it was extremely painful. Everything felt unnatural and scary. It was a whole different world than what she was used to.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 years old,” Smith says. She had never gone more than a few weeks without soccer. After her injury, she was unable to play for over five months.
Smith notes that the recovery process was exceedingly painful and strenuous. She was bedridden for a week after surgery, and couldn’t walk for another week after. Each week, she would have to do physical therapy exercises in the hope of being able to achieve her past skill level. Every month meant another doctor’s visit to ensure everything was going efficiently.
Fortunately, Smith was released to play soccer again two weeks ago. She has joined the Varsity team as a forward and hopes for a successful and exciting season. In a miraculous recovery, Smith never once gave up. Her goal of playing varsity her sophomore year was at the forefront of her mind, which made her unstoppable. Smith’s love for soccer motivated her throughout her recovery and drives her to be her best every day.
“[Her] recovery from ACL surgery in May of this year has been remarkable. It’s a testament to her focus, work ethic, and determination,” Coach Jeff Hart remarks. “We now know we have a young player on our roster who knows how to deal with and overcome adversity. We can’t wait to see where that rare combination of skill and resiliency takes her in the next few years .”
Sienna Smith’s extraordinary recovery is proof of her resilience these past few months. As a key part of Penn Girls Soccer, Smith continues to progress through her sensational high school soccer career. Although she has a challenging past, it provides a constant motivator and reminder of her neverending resilience.
