Motivated by pain, student athletes make a stronger comeback
AURORA, Colo. — The sound of squeaking sneakers penetrates the red doors of the Rangeview High School gymnasium. Inside the gym, dozens of student athletes clad in white and red are running across the slick floor. The vibrations of bouncing basketballs echo as players yell at each other to cut, pass, and shoot.
The Raiders return to the court after a season where a record number of student-athletes suffered ACL injuries that required surgery, losing them a lot of precious hours playing the sport. Focused on their goals, they aim to make up for that lost time.
“We had five players in a twelve month period have ACL injuries where they had to get surgeries,” said Shawn Palmer, who has been the boys’ varsity basketball coach for 21 years. He said he has never seen this many injuries in such a short period of time.
Rangeview High School earned a name for itself in high school basketball. The boys team won a state championship in the 2018-2019 season, then went undefeated before the COVID-19 pandemic halted their season in 2020.
The program’s success attracted many players from local middle schools and nearby school districts who hoped to develop skills and potentially take their game to the next level. Though it’s the middle of the football season, the basketball team is already hard at work on this year’s goals. During 7th period gym class, the team splits and scrimmages.
Kevin Prosser was among the athletes who came to Rangeview to play sports. But on the day Rocky Mountain PBS visited Rangeview, he wasn’t on the basketball court. Instead, he was on the sideline in his street clothes, saving his strength for football practice while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. The ACL injury occurred while Prosser was playing defense in a football game last year. Today, he’s back playing football, and trying to take it easy outside of football games and practice.
And he’s not alone.
Basketball player Kevin Hernandez is also out with a torn ACL. Driving to the basket in a crowded lane during an exhibition game, Hernandez’ injury occurred after he landed awkwardly on his leg.
Both players acknowledged the injury has been tough on them as they were forced to take time off to heal their legs.
“I’ve always been a healthy person . . . I was struggling as I felt like my leg was numb. I was just wanting to walk,” Prosser said.
Prosser grew up in an athletic family. He said being able to compete with his older cousins at a young age was a sign that he had a future in athletics.
“Sports is where it’s at for me. Football or basketball, it doesn’t really matter. I just want to play at the next level,” he said.
Kevin Prosser in uniform last season.
Photo: Kevin Prosser
Hernandez had a similar journey, following in the footsteps of his dad, who played basketball. For Hernandez, the process also involved his faith.
“I just kept praying and put my trust in God, whatever plan he has for me,” he said of his injury.
Only about 6% of high school sports injuries require surgery, but surgery can keep students from playing sports for weeks or months — sometimes it ends their careers.
Hernandez, a sophomore, is determined to avoid that fate. “My goal is to go to college, play Division 1 at the highest level,” he said.
Statistically, only 3.5% of high school basketball players make it to the collegiate level. That number dwindles to just 1% when it comes to playing in Division 1, the highest level. Injuries, then, can take away precious time for youth to develop and progress in their careers.
“It's really difficult to really put yourself in their situation and think about what they're having to go through,” Palmer said of his players. Palmer said he’s, “trying to support them as much as possible, because I think about myself as a 16-year-old high school athlete and how devastated I would have been if somebody told me, ‘You can't play for an entire year.’”
Hernandez and Prosser went through physical therapy with Rangeview’s trainer Heidi Kelly. It was important to Palmer that both kids still had a place on the basketball team even if they were injured.
“We tried to make them involved as much as they wanted to be involved. From being there at practices, setting up a shooting machine for them, and just checking in on them,” he said.
The support from their families, coaches and teammates all played a role in the boys’ physical and mental recovery, they said.
“I never let my hopes down because I always had good spirits,” Prosser said. “My football and basketball teammates always reached out and were very supportive.”
After his fall 2022 injury, Prosser’s main goal was to get back on the football field and he returned as one of the team’s captains this October. At his first post-injury football game, the Raiders won against Central High School.
“It's just been really cool to watch Kevin Prosser get back on the football field and be an impactful player again. And then Kevin Hernandez now is practicing full time with us,” Palmer said.
Hernandez has slowly been getting back on the court, practicing with the basketball team and playing in small tournaments leading up to the season.
Despite his injury, Hernandez participates in practice at Rangeview High School.
Photo: Peter Vo, Rocky Mountain PBS
The two are looking beyond their injuries to make sure they are able to reach their goals. Prosser wants to be able to provide for the people who have provided for him. Hernandez has a similar goal, and he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself.
“I want to play at the next level because I promised my mom I’d buy her house,” Hernandez said with a laugh. “I have to keep that promise.”
Peter Vo is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach Peter at petervo@rmpbs.org.