Bridget Grant’s cries of pain could be heard from the top row of Stadium Bowl.
John and MaryKate Grant had heard their daughter cry out, but figured she would get back up and continue playing in Stadium High’s first-round game against Woodinville in the girls soccer Class 4A state tournament last November.
“I was really hoping she’d get back into the game,” MaryKate Grant said. “Initially, we were just sad for her because it was such an important game. Then, it quickly was all about her.”
Grant, described by coach John Baretta as a “tough kid” and the enforcer of the Stadium High defense, had suffered a major injury when she collided with another girl. Both legs came out from under her and she landed directly on her tailbone, bending it almost 90 degrees inward.
“It all happened so fast,” Stadium’s trainer Troy Lindstrom said. “She had no time to brace her fall.”
A trip to the Tacoma General emergency room for X-rays revealed the rare injury. Twice doctors tried to manipulate the coccyx back to its normal position, but it sprang back, barely hanging on to the rest of Grant’s sacrum, the shield-shaped bony structure at the base of the lumbar vertebrae.
The rehabilitation would be long – Grant missed 50 days of school – and difficult. But less than a year later Grant was back on the field helping Stadium defeat Olympia, 1-0, in the team’s Narrows League opener earlier this month.
“I was very excited and super grateful to be back on the team,” said Grant, who was a first team all-conference selection last year. “It was a good start to the season.”
Considering the finish to her junior season, just to be playing again is an accomplishment.
“It was a very unfortunate injury,” MaryKate Grant said. “It will take time. I believe she will be dealing with this the rest of her life.”
Grant spent six days in Mary Bridge Children’s hospital before returning home, and even then, she went to different doctors and therapists up to three times a week.
She had to use a walker or have her father lift her up just to get around. For the first six weeks, she needed a catheter and then had to undergo physical therapy to retrain her pelvic muscles.
“She handled the injury with finesse,” MaryKate Grant said. “We are proud of her.”
Grant’s teammates and friends from Stadium and her club team, Norpoint FC Spirit, visited often. They dropped by with food, homework and to watch movies and their favorite TV shows.
“I had lots of love and support,” Grant said.
By January, she was ready to return to school part-time. Although she was moving better, sitting for long periods was difficult.
Grant carried donut-shaped pillows to sit on.
Her classmates soon found other uses for the pillows, tossing them like horseshoes at light fixtures or carrying them around their necks.
Grant’s long-time friend and teammate, Sierra Wang, even fashioned a special caterpillar pillow for her.
“It was cute. It had a face and was orange,” said Wang, a friend since third grade.
To navigate the different floors at Stadium, Grant received elevator privileges. She soon noticed she had lots of friends willing to ride between floors with her.
“That was great, the elevator key,” Wang said.
Grant had healed enough by May to begin playing soccer for her club team. At first, she was limited to five-minute intervals at half speed.
It didn’t take her long until she was back to her usual attacking style again. In her first full game back, she took a blow to her face and almost broke her nose.
Her mother, fortunately, didn’t see the play. Still, she cringes a little when she sees her daughter go after the ball.
“We’ll get better at it,” MaryKate said, laughing. “It’s difficult to watch (the tackles) but she’s back on the field because she wants to be.”
Grant’s teammates are also getting used to her aggressive play, too. Against Olympia, Grant went for a tackle midway through the first half and then came up limping. She quickly recovered and returned to the field.
“Bridget would run through a wall without crying,” Baretta said.
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SOCCER’S SUPER SIX
PLAYERS
Megan Amis, So., F, Auburn Riverside
Was an all-league selection in SPSL North as a freshman.
Holland Crook, Jr., F, Todd Beamer
The TNT’s All-Area Player of the Year last fall.
Amber Fenton, Sr., F, Sumner
Portland State-commit led SPSL 3A with 16 goals in 2007.
Stephanie Horibe, Jr., F, Auburn Riverside
All-state as a freshman, missed 2007 with a knee injury.
Kaitlyn Pavlovich, Jr., MF, Bellarmine Prep
All-Narrows selection leads the Lions offense.
Amanda Roselli, Sr., F, Fife
Trojans scoring machine netted 31 goals last fall.
TEAMS
Auburn Riverside
Ravens add depth to competitive SPSL North.
Bellarmine Prep
GK Cierra Pederson, D Claire Yearian anchor a stout defense.
Fife
Defending Class 2A champions are looking to repeat.
Kentwood
Conquerors are going for fourth straight state appearance.
Stadium
Tigers have circled Oct. 7 match with Bellarmine Prep.
Todd Beamer
Shootout loss to Eastlake in 4A state title game still hurts.
Doug Pacey, The News Tribune
