As time ticked off the clock senior Kelli Stoetzel ran up and down the field just like she would in any other soccer game. But what she didn’t know is that this game would change everything. As Kelli went for the ball, she had the opponent on her backside trying to fend her off with one arm and also clear the ball at the same time. She planted her foot to kick the ball but it stuck in the grass and as her body and everything else continued to advance forward her foot stayed planted.

“ I heard a pop and looked down at my knee and the cap was dislocated so I twisted it back in place and tried to hop off the field,” Stoetzel said.

Hastings’ Assistant Coach Jodie Barr then proceeded to walk on the field to help her off. Coach Barr believed that Kelli ‘s injury was only a cramp in her leg.

For the duration of the game Stoetzel sat on the sideline cart (where injured players normally sit) with teammate Jessi Barton.

“At first I was excited when I got hurt because I knew I wouldn’t have to play soccer anymore,” Stoetzel said.

She then attended Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab (PTSR) and met with Dr. Barry Bohlen a few days after the game. He told her she had to get Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three weeks following her PTSR visit Stoetzel received the results from the MRI.

Dr. Bohlen delivered the bad news. Kelli tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and would have to get surgery. The tearing of the ACL is a very serious injury that takes close to six months to recover from. The injury is common in athletes.

“When I found out I couldn’t play softball and would be recovering from surgery for about 6 months I was heartbroken,” Stoetzel said.

Though she knew it would be impossible, Kelli was very determined to try to make it back for some of her senior year of softball, which is her favorite sport. Kelli has played softball for the past three years at Hastings High and has played varsity every year. Kelli attended PTSR on a regular basis to try to strengthen her knee and get it back in time for season, but she knew this would do no good.

As hard as she worked Kelli still had little to no hope of being ready in time considering that softball season starts in early August and at that point she had only got her surgery three months prior.

Then the unbelievable happened. Kelli went in to see Dr. Bohlen for a regular check on her knee. For the past three months Kelli was making very good progress in therapy and her knee was feeling much better. He asked her a few simple questions and then proceeded to sign a piece of paper giving her medical release to start playing and told Kelli to have a great season.

Dr. Bohlen also said he would come watch her play sometime.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Stoetzel said. “I wanted to cry when he told me I could play, I was so excited I started calling all my close softball friends to tell them my amazing news,” Stoetzel said.

After the appointment with Dr. Bohlen Kelli went to school office to get her orange card so she could start practice that very day.

“Finding out I could come back for the season was even better than the Jonas Brothers concert!” Stoetzel said.

Kelli’s miracle has occurred. Kelli is able to play second base her senior year just like she’d been hoping.

On August 21, it wasn’t just any other practice for the Hastings High Tiger Softball Team. One person was back on the playing field.

Kelli Stoetzel began practicing only three and a half short months after her ACL surgery back in May. Kelli has proved that with hard work and dedication you can achieve the impossible.