By Nicholas Vancho – Staff Reporter

Less than a month into the new school year, an epidemic has already hit Jonathan Law – an epidemic of ACL tears.

There have been at least six student-athletes that have suffered ACL tears across all levels and sports at Law in August and September. 

“I have seen ACL injuries previously,” Law Athletic Trainer Isabelle Notaro said. “But on an isolated basis.”

Notaro said there are many causes for ACL injuries.

“ACL injuries can occur via contact or non-contact mechanisms,” Nataro said. “ The most common mechanisms include rapid deceleration, a direct blow to the side of the knee, or the knee caving inward during a landing.”

Three categories come into play in relation to the risk factors of ACL injuries amongst young athletes. These include biological (age, gender), biomechanical (muscular strength, movement mechanics), and environmental (sport-specific).

“Biologically, the biggest risk of ACL injury is typically amongst females around age 16 and males around age 17,” Notaro said. “Specifically in regards to the fall season, sports like football and soccer are characterized as high impact. These sports require quick cutting or pivoting  movements, leaving athletes with higher risk of exposure to this type of injury.”

Senior soccer player Alivia Bogert has played soccer for four years. When she got injured it crushed her – it hit even harder for her because she had just returned from ACL surgery from last year.

“The first time, I put my foot down and turned my knee,” Bogert said. “The second time it was full contact. I was going for the ball and someone ran through my knee”

Bogert is not alone on the girls soccer injury list as her teammate, senior Samantha Matist, endured the same injury prior to Bogert.

“I was changing direction in a summer league game and tore it,” Matist said.

Freshman Olivia DeSimone, also a member of the girls soccer team, tore her ACL in tryouts.

“At soccer tryouts, my cleats collided with someone else’s and as she fell, my leg pulled out, popped, and I lost all stability,” DeSimone said. “Mentally it crushed me. I was forced to face emotions I’ve never felt so strongly before.”

These three athletes are still working through the emotional aspects of getting injured.

“It affected me mentally because I couldn’t play my sports for fall, winter, or spring,” Matist said.

Bogert said the daily reminders of her injury are difficult.

“It felt like I always had to wait on my shoulder even when I got off crutches and out of my brace,” Bogert said. “It was always in the back of my mind that I was out for the sports season again.”

The injury these young athletes faced not only affected them, but the people around them as well.

“My parents were devastated that it happened again,” Bogert said. “My team and coach were affected because I was a starting varsity player and with me out they now have to find someone to play my position.”

DeSimone said the outpouring of support has meant a lot.

“People around me became more open and showed me sides of them I’ve never seen before,” DeSimone said. “People really came through to help me.”

The rash of ACL tears has also affected the Law football team. Junior Arthur Rossi tore his ACL in a camp over the summer.

“Someone landed on my knee and it went inwards,” Rossi said. “It affected my family – they’re definitely sad. My team and friends are definitely sad I couldn’t play my junior year with them.”

Sophomore Jayden Garcia and senior Jeremiah Dos Santos also had similar experiences on the field.

“I was breaking down for a tackle and my left foot pivoted into the ground and my body moved right and my knee shifted and like broke,” Garcia said.

Dos Santos said the injury gave him appreciation for the people around him who kept him positive in his last high school year.

“I got hit the wrong way in football,” Dos Santos said. “The people around me are more kind towards me because they have to be careful of my knee.”

All of these athletes are still facing the mental side of their injuries but remain positive.

“It has affected me mentally – it’s hard,” Rossi said. “But I have a good supporting cast helping me through it.”

Even though they can’t play, all of these athletes are doing their best to support their teammates from the sidelines.

“I’ve been going to practice and I’m going to the games, so I’m just staying with my team,” Garcia said.