Leesville has a large population of student-athletes who are at risk of injury during their high school sports career. 

Sports like soccer, football, dance, cheer, baseball, etc., can cause a tear of their ACL or MCL. 

During the 2024-2025 school year, a total of six major leg injuries and three  minor leg injuries were had among Varsity Football players. 

Aidan Lane, a junior on the Varsity Football team, tore his ACL on August 20th, 2024, during kickoff of a football game. 

Lane walks through how he tore his ACL happened. He said, “I was running down the field, and I stepped and felt something pop in my leg. I tried to step on it, and my leg couldn’t support me.”

Lane was out for a year after his leg injury, but was still able to be a part of the team on the sidelines, giving water and cheering on his teammates. 

Having such a major injury can not only have its physical effects, but also mentally affect these athletes. 

Madeline Carpenter, a senior on the Leesville Dance Team, tore her MPFL when she was 11, and her knee has popped out 6 times during high school. 

Carpenter explains the mental effect of her injury. When she said, “I definitely don’t think I’ve been able to grow as a dancer as much as I wanted to.”

Having such a severe injury changes an athlete’s perspective on their sport and how they play now.

Chloe Cragg, a senior on the Leesville Varsity Volleyball team, tore her ACL and her meniscus while playing. She was supposed to have a six month recovery period, but it turned into nine months. 

Cragg said, “[My leg injury] made me more conscious of where I’m going and what I’m doing.”

Leg injuries take student athletes out of the sport for a long time, but teaches them to appreciate the sport and the opportunities they have.