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Shae Holmes' journey back from two ACL tears // 9.11.19

By Washington Huskies

September 11^th, 2019

I committed to Washington for the opportunity for a high level education and the opportunity to play in the Pac-12. This is the sport I’ve loved since I was 4 and is definitely what I want to do after college. Everything always happens for a reason and this was the path for me. Of course, there’s always bumps in any path no matter which way you choose.

I hit my first bump my second semester of senior year. Since my sophomore year of high school, I had been a part of the US Women’s National Team pools. It was always the best-of-the-best playing and an absolutely privilege every time I got invited. The last camp of 2017 was the one I never expected to test me mentally and physically. I was at the U18 USWNT camp it was the last day, last game and I went up to intercept a ball. My knee felt like it was ripped in half with the two pops going each in a different way.

Sure enough, I had torn my right ACL. I was devastated because I knew recovery was an average of 9-12 months, so there went my last year of club, my last high school season, and US camps for at least a year.

I was determined to not miss my first year of college soccer though. I started out the new year with a new ACL and was ready for whatever was to come. Even so, it was a long a hard process mentally and physically. At nine and a half months of recovery, I was feeling better than ever and finally, after so much waiting, was cleared to play in my first college game ever. I had gotten over the bump, but most of the time there’s not just one obstacle down whatever path you go.

On September 16, 2018 we were playing Seattle U and in our last non-conference game before the Pac-12 season began. That day was the day I had been waiting for for nine months. I went in the second half with 32 minutes left in the game. I didn’t even get to make a pass, but it was my chance to defend a cross coming down my side. I’m running side-by-side with a girl and I block the cross with my right leg and landed on it to continue my stride. There it was again, another pop. I tried to jog it off but something wasn’t right. I was bawling because this couldn’t be happening again. From the time of me going in to when I was back out on the sideline was only a time span of 49 seconds.

If you haven’t guessed it already, I tore my MCL and re-tore my right ACL. I could not wrap my head around it. I was purely in shock, but it was time to start this process again and I knew what had to be done. My patellar tendon from my left leg became my new right ACL and implants were put in to make my MCL stronger. Those implants caused an infection that involved another two surgeries to get them out. That made it three surgeries in the time span of a month and I got to check "using a walker" off my bucket list.

This time around was even harder mentally than the first, but physically I felt so much more stable. I medically redshirted for soccer and got to focus on academics since I couldn't travel with the team.

Fast forward to present day and I’m 11 months post-op and stronger, fitter, and feeling overall better than ever in comparison to last year. I have such a passion for this sport and have aspirations to continue it after college, so there was no way these two setbacks were going to stop me. 22 months since I last really played, I finally got my first minutes back against Denver this year. I have missed soccer so much. Tears of joy were all I had after this HUGE moment.

Injuries are something that are hard to express and relate to if you haven’t been in that position. I would not wish this injury on my worst enemy. It has made me a stronger person and my motto through my whole journey was positive vibes only. I say everything happens for a reason and never take anything for granted. I have always been motivated to be the best and I’ve always had so much passion and love for this sport. After these dips in the road it just reminds me to always play in training and games like it’s my last because you truly never know. It was a beyond long process and definitely wasn’t an easy one, but if I didn’t go through what I did then my life wouldn’t be how it is now. All I could do was trust the process and trust the path I’m being taken down.