10
February 20^7
Imp/iCT S tudecits
p
Tedious injuries can be prevented; health risks remain part of game
C hristopher E rbin
Staff Reporter
Injury; It is the single most
threatening word to student
athletes and their teams.
While high school competitors
may not fear injury, post
injury rehabilitation is taken
seriously because it takes much
longer than people expect it
to. Players end up missing
playing time, and their role
in high school sports is often
restricted to the sidelines.
Nearly 7.2 million
teenagers across America
take part in high school
sports competitions to
demonstrate their athleticism
and determination and, more
than anything, to do what they
love and excel at. However,
a recent increase in pressures
brought on by school, friends
and family correlates with a
significant increase in injuries
among high school athletes
who are pushing themselves
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a little too far. In some cases,
these injuries result in the
termination of the athlete's
season, or the injury may even
end a player's athletic career.
According to a study
conducted at Ohio State
University, in the 05-06 school
year, nearly two million high
school sports-related injuries
resulted in 500,000 doctor
visits and 30,000 visits to
the hospital. Studies done
by the university show that
certain types of injuries occur
much more frequently than
others and are often a result
of athletes overworking
themselves without taking the
necessary precautions.
By far the most frequently
occurring injuries are those
classified as sprains and
strains, injuries that can often
be prevented if athletes stretch
out for 15 minutes before
their activity. The Ohio State
study also showed that an
insignificant percentage of
these injuries occurred during
competition. Most occurred
during practice. Many doctors
at the university have come to
the conclusion that practice-
related injuries are the result
of athletes failing to warm up
and overstraining in the early
stages of practice.
"It is so hard just sitting
there and watching other
people warm up and mentally
prepare for the game when all
you can do is support them
from the sidelines," Kellie
Trafton, sophomore soccer
player, said of the injury she
suffered this fall.
The second and third
leading causes of injury are
concussion/contusion and
fractures. These kinds of
injuries often occur during
competition when athletes are
fiercely engaged in the game.
Still, appropriate equipment
and other precautions could
help prevent competition-
related injuries. A knee brace
may not prevent a basketball
player from diving for a loose
ball or driving hard to the
hoop to get to the free throw
line, but it may reduce the
damaging impact of risky
maneuvers.
"So far, the ankle braces
that the basketball coaches
recommend have really served
their purpose. Last year, I
was on crutches for about
three weeks because of a bad
ankle sprain and they have
prevented any major injuries
this year," Alex Frye, freshman.
Among the nine sports
tested at Ohio State, football
piled up the highest number
of injuries with an average 12
percent of players sidelined for
the year due to serious injury.
Soccer was the leading injury
culprit for girls' sports and an
Off
average leave time for injured
players. Baseball and softball
rounded out the bottom of the
injury chart, averaging only two
Cam ps, w eight lil
player injuries over a period of
and op en field
two weeks or more.
athlete's off-seasc
The Lions have had their
have a longer o
fare share of sports-related
a regular season
injuries, including accidents
more tim e to w or
that have sidelined competitors
to get bigger, faster
for significant periods of time.
especially during
w hen school w or
Zach Sramek, sophomore, was
the way.
entering his first year on the
Varsity Football Team when he
Reed N icholson,
injured himself during practice.
basketball and b
He was leg-whipped which
sports include im
resulted in a broken femur.
m er training and
Sramek was sidelined for three
tic ip a tio n in si
months and supported his
leagues.Sum m er
teammates from the bench for
sports have no j
the rest of the season.
only games.
"It sucks because you are
"When there is ovc
Kyle Kraus, junior, is one of many working hard and nothing
baseball and bask
student athletes who have suffered
feels like it's getting better,"
nate. The coaches
long - term sport injuries. Kraus was
said Sramek of his injury.
they have a lot o j
sidelined with tom tendons in his
both," N icholson
ankle when he sprained it last winter Sramek is now healing well
and continuing rehabilitation.
N icholson believ
during off - season training.
the m ost importar
Photo by Cole Fiala Despite his disappointment with
season training fo
this football season, Sramek
average of three players fell to
looks forward to competing next
plays and that s
the sidelines over the course
season. He is also a member of
more relaxed am
of the season. These numbers,
the Varsity Wrestling Team and
"It helps you work
however small they are, could
plans to compete in track later
in your gam e. Pec
affect team's success since
playing tim e, so
this spring.
injuries predominately affected
N icholson said.
The studies conducted at
team starters and go-to players. Ohio State U niver^v show
"I beleive the off
Wrestling was the only s
that although son A thletes
m ost im portant t
in which teams lost nearly as
will sustain competition-related
ers to im prove th
many athletes to competition-
injuries due to the nature of
skills," D avid E
related as practice injuries.
competitive sports, many sports
boys basketball c
It also racked up the longest
injuries can be prevented.
The basketball te
Athletes can make a conscious
gym tim e to shoo
effort to warm up prior to
ing the year and
practice or a game, and they can
an overnight c am
include yoga, recreational
suit up with the appropriate
U niversity every
options.
volleyball, various forms of
equipment.
Along with basketball,
dance such as belly dancing,
there are girls and boys
as well as recreational
intramural tennis leagues.
lacrosse, Irish dance,
These were started last
beginning snowshoeing,
year by Jam ie LeVeque,
gives stud ents.
recreational soccer and
Intramural Sports
HlLLLARY K r IPPAEHNE & Him C i AVARELLO and stay out of
beginning and advanced
Coordinator.
Staff Reporters
"It (sp0rts) k
canoeing. Most community
Intramural sports are not
classes cost approximately
Sports plays a big role in
doing other thi
shouldn't," Gray Sc
$45-60 and run for two to
some student's lives, as they
During team pr;
three months.
find themselves running from
competitions, althl
Golf courses abound in
practice to practice and staying
together and push
the Portland area, but a day
up late to finish assignments.
at the greens can be costly,
Students are feeling the pressure. to perform. Whitni
senior, cites her tri]
unless your visit is with a
Callan Gray, freshman, plays
with the Cross Coi
member, or you visit one of
both basketball and volleyball.
when teammates I
the public golf courses in the
The two seasons overlap and
succeed by offerin'
area.
are played year round except for
providing motivat
To escape the pressures
two months during the summer.
"My favorite thi
the only option. Athletes
while still playing, getting
Her typical afternoon includes
sports is working \
can train individually or
a group of friends together
school, one practice, another
my teammates," H
participate in recreational
to play football, basketball
practice and then homework
Injuries also ad(
leagues or classes.
or frisbee is a good way to
until late into the night. Gray
for athletes. Sprair
Bike riding is a popular
release stress while having
enjoys her busy schedule and
tom muscles and 1
activity in Oregon, as
fun.
uses it to her advantage.
can have a major I
Portland is touted as the
"Playing in the Portland
"Yeah, I love playing sports
bike-friendliest city in
Futsal (like indoor soccer)
and it keeps me busy," Gray said. Playing more than
may become impo
America. It is also one
league is great exercise,
Although Gray likes the busy
physical therapy a
activity that doesn't require
keeps you in shape, gets you
aspect of sports, she doesn't like
become a major ot
a fee to participate. Others
out of the house, is fun and
the time consuming part.
the habitually bus;
include jogging, hiking,
you get to meet new people,”
"Sometimes (sports) interfere
Harmon, who plaj
walking, swimming and
Wind Lothamer, technology
with my social and homework
sports in the same
outdoor rock climbing.
teacher, said. "You also get
time," Gray said.
country and soccei
The City of West Linn
to show how awesome you
Sports can be a great social
her high school ca:
offers low-cost community
are, work on your skills
outlet too. Athletes can make
had to cut back be
education classes and sports
and improve your ability a ^
friends and bond j^ e r common
injury.
camps. Current offerings
7 interests. Being a ^SIt of a team
player.'
3
Non-competitive sports options open
A lex Vermillion, ’
freshman
sports
it's just trying to
prepare you for
whicn is really
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"No, I enjoy
being completely
stressed out."
Competition makes a
sport challenging. Team
practices, additional training,
mental preparation; the
whole purpose is to beat the
opposition.
However, some athletes
find that less competition is
more fun and more relaxing.
"Non-competitive sports
are less stressful, and more
fun," Christina Letsou,
freshman, said.
So where does a person
find sports activities that
don't have the pressure of
intense competition?
One place is intramural
sports in school or private
leagues. Intramural
basketball at West Linn is in
its current season with both
boys and girls teams.
"We have two girls teams
this year. We're hoping to
have our two teams grow
so maybe next year we have
three or four," Rob Holstrom,
Athletic Director said.
The no-cut policy which
made multiple junior varsity
sports teams possible were
cut due to funding and
facility scheduling problems
according to Holstrom. This
left students who enjoyed
the less-competitive school
teams to look for other
Demanding sports c