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In Her Own Court

Junior, Ava Shipman overcomes a knee injury to get back to the sport she loves
In Her Own Court

For Hempfield Junior,  Ava Shipman, sports have always been the center of her life. Even as a young girl, one would always find her on a field, court, or playground. Regardless of what the sport was, she was always active and involved. She would constantly be seen doing any physical activity that she could. Although she enjoyed multiple sports, basketball became her true passion. 

As she was entering her sophomore year, she was very excited to be joining her sister on the high school team and eager to be on the court playing with some of her favorite people. However, just before the school year began, during the last seconds of a basketball game in North Carolina, Shipman faced a life changing injury. Her ACL was torn. An ACL tear is when the Anterior Cruciate Ligament is overstretched in the knee. After hearing the news, Shipman was absolutely devastated because it would be her first season without playing basketball.

A girl who has gone through her whole life playing basketball was now suddenly forced to completely stop. The defeat wasn’t because of her pain though, it was due to the mental challenges of not being able to do the things she normally does. “I wasn’t even able to lift 20 pounds at first,” Shipman exclaimed. The hardest part of overcoming this injury was “knowing that I wasn’t able to play.” 

After months of going to physical therapy, Shipman was finally cleared. Throughout her months off, she continued to support her team and learn what she needed to improve on for the upcoming season. This season, she is excited and grateful for the privilege to be able to play the sport she loves again. She recently was recognized for making the All Tournament Team for Greensburg Salem. “I played good defense,” she stated, reflecting on her game. All in all, Shipman is thrilled to be acknowledged for her recovery and success. 

The biggest goal for the team this year is to make the playoffs, and the girls are off to a terrific start to a season, with wins against McKeesport, North Hills, and Fox Chapel. Shipman is ready to continue gaining wins with the rest of the team and show off her defensive skills that are worthy of recognition. 

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