It was the second to last game of the season. It was windy and rainy the whole game. Miserable conditions mixed with an absolute beat down by the other team. To keep myself motivated, I just kept telling myself that the score was 0-0. But when the opposing team got into scoring range again near the end of the game, I was ready to hang up my cleats. However, I knew the exact play the offense was about to run. I had seen it a bunch on film, and they had already run it several times in the game. It was just a simple outside run play. I ran right where the running back would be and went low for a tackle. I didn't make great contact which caused me to hold on to his legs as the runner dragged me. I finally got him to fall. But as he fell, one of my teammates was coming to deliver another hit. He instead tripped over the falling runner and landed right on my leg that was up in the air. My leg bent awkwardly and I felt a terrible pain in my ankle. 

The trainer on the sidelines put a bunch of tape around my foot and ankle. I then got up and was told to run around. Any pressure on my right foot sent a terrible pain throughout my body. I about wanted to cry. I convinced my coach to send me back out there. But this was a terrible decision. The offense through a pass play and when I went to go for the tackle, I couldn't sprint and the defender blew right past me. My coach took me off right after. He wasn't mad, he just wanted me to protect my body. He said there was no point in worsening my injury in a game we weren't going to win. 

...

Leading up to the final game of the season, the team trainers had me do a bunch of different exercises. Everything I did was supposedly helping my ankle get its strength back. I would tie a weighted pad around my ankle and move it up and down and side to side. Then they would have me do box jumps on one foot. This hurt the most and I didn't see how it was actually improving my situation. The trainer told me to wear a high ankle brace and to try practice with it. 

When I got to practice, I still couldn't run without being in pain. So the trainer would come out and give me more exercises to do so I wasn't just sitting on the sideline. Instead of running, I would do slow jogging around the football field. This still felt uncomfortable. 

By Friday, the trainer told my coaches that I wasn't fit to play. Therefore, I was tasked with recording the game film up in the booth. It was a chilly Saturday afternoon. Elm was closing the season against the third best team in the conference. I think everyone knew what the outcome was going to be. 

The snow was coming down hard at the start of the second quarter. There was a snow alert but no one thought there would actually be any. Thankfully, I made sure to pack my coat and gloves. But even with that protection, my teeth were still chattering in the open walled booth. There was a ceiling, but where it would be nice to have windows were instead just openings in the walls. My lips got numb quite fast. 

The game seemed like it lasted forever, Elm would have long drives with nothing to show for it, while our opponents seemed like they scored on the first play every time. The final ended up being 49-12. And with that, football season had come to a close. 

...

My first order of business was making contact with the track team. As soon as the game ended on Saturday, I took to social media to find all of the track teammates in my grade on Instagram. The normal messaging group chat was dead. No one had really communicated in it since that bowling night. I figured more people would take to being active on Snapchat. 

While I did want to connect, or reconnect with the entirety of the team, this was also my filthy plan to force contact with Claire Hawkins. I went to her Instagram account first. After losing track of time looking at all of her photos, I snapped out and sent her a message. I already had her Snapchat, but I asked if she would be down to be added to a group chat on Snapchat with all the other freshmen. And just like that, Claire and I had our first type of interaction. She responded with saying that she thought it was a great idea. I was fine with just that. She knew who I was now. Hopefully this message prompted her to look at my Instagram. I then looked at my photos to make sure I looked good. Then I figured it was time to message my other teammates.

...

My parents decided to take me to our family doctor Sunday after the game. They felt that the trainers weren't taking my injury seriously. None of the trainers had told me what was actually wrong. 

I told my doctor everything the trainers had me do for recovery. He felt my ankle and just looked at me with wide eyes.

"They were having you do single leg box jumps?" He asked in a concerned tone. 

"Yes, multiple sets everyday."

"They weren't helping you out at all, they set you back. It's definitely a high ankle sprain. Not a severe one, but one that needs more care then you were giving it. I'm going to put you in a walking boot. Don't rush recovery, wear the boot and give it time. And stay away from that trainer. I'll give you a note of activities that you can do."

I wouldn't have to worry about the trainer since the trainer for track was different than for football. But I couldn't help but me annoyed. Regardless, this injury was going to need time to heal. But how much did the football trainer set me back? It was her job to make sure she was helping me recover properly. Every time I walked in there she would always be in a grumpy mood. If you don't like your job and aren't going to perform it properly, then just leave. 

It was finally time for track but this injury was going to limit how involved I could be with the team.

...

I texted Coach Porter Monday after the last game. I told him I didn't want to take my rest period, I needed to come to track practice and transition my life. He didn't argue and instead told me he'd see me there. I was able to get every freshman on the team in the Snapchat group chat. I texted that I was excited to finally meet them at practice later, they responded likewise.

Track practice started at 4:45, but I made sure to get there at 4:30. I was there before the coaches and I made sure to shake all their hands. They all just seemed like great people. Things were already off to a better start and it hadn't even been 10 minutes. The team met at the outdoor track right at the track opening. I waited outside the fence that lined the perimeter of the track so I didn't have to sit with the boot. The head long jump coach chatted me up the whole time and made me feel right at home as Coach Porter debriefed the team. 

"We now have Trevor joining us from the football team!" Coach Porter said and shifted everyone's attention my way. 

People clapped to welcome me in. I gave a wave and a nod back. I made eye contact with Claire Hawkins. Well, more like one-sided eye contact.

The team had been practicing outside for the Fall. But now that it was November, the team only met outside, practices were now in the indoor track. I was so happy with this, I had ran indoor track a little bit in high school, but that was obviously at meets. My high school itself didn't have an indoor track. If it was snowing or storming like crazy, my high school teammates would still run on the outdoor track. But if the weather conditions were dangerous, this we would run the high school halls. To finally have an indoor track was a blessing. 

I talked with Coach Porter some more and watched the team warmup. Everyone was looking so fast. I couldn't help but wonder what their times were compared to mine. I hoped that I was faster than most. 

Everyone took turns coming up to me at practice to formally introduce themselves. The first was a fellow freshman, but not too many freshmen came up to me after that. Maybe they felt like they already knew me. I was so distracted with meeting new faces and talking to Coach Porter about my injury that I lost track of Claire Hawkins. The interactions were funny. People either made jokes about the football team, asked about my boot, or thought I was a high school recruit. I welcomed it all. While I was sure the questions about my injury would get old quick, I was just excited to be talking to new faces. I knew this was where I belonged. My whole mood had changed, I felt like I was at a new school. I couldn't help but smile. 

I went to Coach Porter when he wasn't busy.

"I know you told me to take the time off. And I know you just wanted me to watch today. But my doctor gave me a list of exercises I can do. Can I please just jump into practice tomorrow?"

Porter smiled. "Absolutely. I was in a boot in college too. I have plenty of workouts to help you get healthy as well. Your season begins tomorrow."