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Injury Gives Athlete New Perspective
By Lauren Cecere
Jessica Blanford on right with teammates
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Jessica Blanford's dream was to play college basketball. During her freshman
year at Mars Hill College she made the All-Freshman team. Sophomore
year she hoped to start, and in pre-season she was one of the top players.
Then, during practice on the night before the first game of the season,
she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the most important ligament
in her knee.
Blanford, now a junior, says having to sit on the sidelines
while recovering from that injury was one of the biggest challenges of her
life. She was forced to look at life from a different perspective.
She wasn’t prepared for the emotional and physical pain that comes with
an athletic injury. “Tearing my ACL was my first injury. Having
to sit on the sidelines and having rehab every day was very painful and unlike
anything I had ever dealt with,” Blanford says.
In order to overcome the pain, Blanford had to find inner strength. “I
am a very independent person, but I had to rely on others, like friends and
family. "I am not usually the type to show emotions in front of
people. Showing my weaknesses every day was difficult. I just tried
to keep myself positive and knew that I had to be patient and understand that
the process to get back would be long and hard,’ says Blanford.
While working hard to return, Blanford ran into many obstacles and challenges. “When
I started running, I just wanted to go. I want instant gratification,
which was impossible.”
She also struggled to regain her ability to play defense. “I
pride myself on my defense, which took the longest to get back. It was difficult
to slide and make cuts,” she says.
Blanford had to turn to friends and family for support. “My dad
was encouraging. He is my biggest basketball influence. My dad
played college ball and coached me growing up. He coached recreational
league, and he coached my high school team. My dad had a tough childhood,
but he has made a name for himself and is a very respected person. His
support definitely helped me through the injury,” Blanford says.
Blanford on left with teammates |
One of her teammates had also torn her ACL around the same time. “My
teammate was going through the same thing. It was comforting to have
someone go through the ups and downs. Each of us knew exactly what the
other was going through. We even started to run at the same time,” says
Blanford.
She had to turn to other interests to keep herself entertained. “I
enjoy reading and spending time with friends and family. I am a big movie
person too,” Blanford says.
She also had to rely on the qualities that helped her get her scholarship. “I
am a very optimistic person. I look at the good and never focus on the
bad. I take pride in what I do, and I do not settle for being mediocre. It
doesn’t satisfy me. I strive to be successful or at the top, whether
it is basketball or anything else. I am very competitive and I hate
to lose.”
When Blanford was finally able to return to the game, it was definitely a
challenge for her. “At first, I was scared and I had to get my
confidence back. The great thing was that I had all summer to improve
and work back into it. I had to gain confidence in myself and confidence
that my knee would not tear again. When I came back in the fall, I was
ready to go full court,” says Blanford.
Blanford has faced some challenges since her return as well. With
a new coaching staff that had statistics from two years ago, Jessica knew she
had to prove to them she was still that same player. “I knew I
could be a leader, but I just had to show them. I wanted to show them
I could go from not playing last year to being a starter this year.”
Another challenge came from the expectations of her peers. “I
worry about what other people think of me. As far as basketball goes,
I feel like I needed to prove myself to people. It can be a good thing,
but at times, it is a lot of pressure on me. As the season went on,
I played for myself and for my team and didn’t worry about what outside
people thought.
Blanford in green with friends
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"The expectations that I had for myself and that others had for me from
my performance freshman year had to be met. I had to prove myself to
other schools and coaches that my freshman year was not a fluke and that I
can play,” says Blanford.
When asked if she had any advice for athletes who suffer an injury, Blanford
replied, “At the time, it seems like forever until you will be able to
return. In reality, it’s a short time compared to what you’re going
to have after. Stay positive. Know how much better things will
be after you get well. Even the smallest improvements in running and
jumping are a sign that you are getting better.”
Due to her injury, she can return for a fifth year with eligibility
to play basketball.
“ I can learn a lot from being here, and there is no rush to
leave early and not use the fifth year,” she says.
Blanford is a religion and history major with a minor in Women’s
Studies. She describes herself as “positive, fun, spontaneous and clean. I
am a clean person. Actually, you can say trustworthy instead of clean.”
She has set goals for herself in life and in basketball. “In
basketball, I want to win a conference championship before I graduate. It
is definitely a possibility with the girls we have on the team. Personally,
I just want to continue to play my best and work hard. In life. I
want to graduate. After I graduate, I hope to move to Colorado and go
to graduate school out there.”
Reader Comment:
Janet Blanford, Parent, 1/21/2008, 6:12 p.m.
Hi, I just saw this article for the first time. I can't believe Jess didn't tell me about this. I am her mom ... and I am very pleased with the job Lauren did with the article. VERY nicely done ... and makes me VERY VERY proud!! THANK YOU LAUREN!!!
Jim Ezell, 1/21/2008, 6:48 p.m.
I enjoyed this article very much. Thank You.
Mike Schrecker, 1/22/2008, 10:49 a.m.
What a great article about an exceptional young lady. As a long time close friend of the Blanford family, I was pleased but not surprised to read ALL positive things about Jessica. She comes from and represents a very strong foundation built on Christian faith and integrity. I promise your team, students and entire Mars Hill community will be blessed by her influence and presence. Thanks.
Tom Cole, alumni, 1/22/2008, 8:22 p.m.
As an alum who has become friends with the Blanford clan, I would like to express how proud I am of Jessica and how she represents MHC on and off the court. She exemplifies the term student athlete and Christian to all who follow MHC and its teams. She is a born leader and quality person. I'll always remember the three-pointer she sank from the corner her freshman year at home to tie L-R at 82 and send the game into overtime. They never recovered and we won. The stuff legends are made of! Congrats Jess.
JoAnn Darnell, 1/22/2008, 10:02 p.m.
Excellent article...inspirational woman and athlete!!
Cindi Burtnett, 1/31/2008, 6:53 p.m.
Jessica follows the genes her parents have given her. A family of winners. A family with values. A family of faith. You are awesome!!! Keep up the good work.
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