Only five games into the season, dribbling around the court, a fierce pain shoots through Natalia Benavidez’s leg. Stress and disappointment filled her thoughts as the pain spread. Knowing what a torn ACL meant, she knew it was just that.

After the injury Dec.2 2023, the doctors confirmed it was a torn ACL. Being out from December 2023 until October 2024, Benavidez is still not back to her original playing styles. For water polo, she was cleared only six months post-surgery, basketball being nine months post- surgery.

The healing process was extremely lengthy, being around nine months. Going to physical therapy twice a week and performing in recovery exercises twice at home is a routine Benavidez had to get used to. 

“It’s a lot of file metrics and lifting weights,” Benavidez said. “At first they had to teach me the basics all over again like running, jumping, and walking and now it’s all explosiveness, basketball and sports.”

Not only did Benavidez need to be healed for water polo but basketball, too. Joining the water polo team her freshman year on top of varsity basketball was more than just a change of scenery.

“Basketball was 24/7 and water polo feels like a little break,” Benavidez said. It is a lot less stressful than basketball.” 

Benavidez said she wishes to pursue her passion for these sports in the future.

“The goal was to play in college, so I don’t know what will happen,” Benavidez said.

by KALLISSA GREGG & SASHA SMITH