It’s difficult for any athlete to miss part of a season due to injury. Missing almost two complete seasons is unthinkable.
This isn’t the first time ASU tennis sophomore Nicole Smith has missed season play. Last season Smith missed the first half of her season due to a torn ACL. Shortly after recovering and returning, Smith re-tore her ACL, and as a result has been redshirting this season.
Smith hasn’t had much time on the court as a Sun Devil, and now that her recovery process is almost complete, she’s eagerly anticipating the day she can rejoin her teammates.
The State Press recently sat down with Smith to talk about what her recovery process has been like.
The State Press: When you re-tore your ACL, what did your teammates and coaches say?
Nicole Smith: Everyone was very supportive. They knew I couldn’t do anything about it right away.
SP: You re-tore your ACL playing basketball. Do you think you will ever play that sport again?
NS: (Laughs.) I don’t know. I might play it sometime in the future when I’m really, really old. I love basketball but I definitely won’t play it again while I’m on a scholarship to play tennis at ASU, and definitely not during season.
SP: What has your recovery process been like?
NS: It started out slow. First it was about getting motion back and then getting the swelling down and keeping the strength up. I’ve been going from there. Now I’m hitting a little bit.
SP: How have you stayed positive?
NS: I’ve just had to take it day to day. Every day is different. It just depended on my knee. It was really hard, but I knew that’s what I had to do to get back to what I loved to do, which is play tennis.
SP: What has been the toughest part of your recovery?
NS: Sitting on the sidelines. Not being able to do what I love to do.
SP: What was it like not traveling to all of the tournaments with your teammates during the fall season?
NS: It was definitely sad staying at home while my teammates left, but I realized this is what I needed to be doing to get better. I would just know that I had to stay home to work on my rehab and my knee because that’s what I really needed.
SP: Have you had extra time to focus on school since you’ve been injured?
NS: I wouldn’t say that school is exactly my favorite thing, but I’ve had a lot of extra time to focus on other things. I started taking beginning guitar lessons. I also started taking yoga classes, and that was good for me.
SP: What do you think Sheila [McInerney, the ASU women’s tennis coach] expects from you?
NS: It’s been a while since Sheila has seen me play. I think once I come back she’ll expect me to play well in doubles because I was really strong in doubles. I played with Michelle [Brycki] last season before I was injured.
SP: How have you supported your team and how have they supported you?
NS: My role on the team is constantly changing. I’ve been their coach, teammate and biggest cheerer.
SP: How do you keep your Sun Devil spirit when you can’t play?
NS: I’m proud to be a Sun Devil. In Canada, where I’m from, college athletics isn’t a big thing. It’s great to come down here and everything around the area is ASU. I really feel like a Sun Devil.
SP: What has been your favorite Sun Devil moment?
NS: It was right after I came back from my last injury and it was the first time I played as a Sun Devil. It was a doubles match with Michelle [Brycki]. I was so nervous and I was having trouble serving the ball, but it was just so great to be back playing. It was against Cal, and I think we won. [Smith and Brycki took an 8-4 victory over Tayler Davis and Annie Goransson.]
SP: When do you expect to be fully recovered?
NS: My doctor said about a year after the surgery is when I should expect my knee to be as good as it’s going to be. I’ve got two more months, but I’m planning to take it slow.
Reach the reporter at nicole.klauss@asu.edu
