Life altering injuries happen to high school kids everyday. 1.35 million high school students a year acquire injuries while playing a sport according to an article on StopSportsInjuries.org and ACL tears have been steadily rising over the last 20 years. Which is exactly what happened to junior Brant Reiker.

During a soccer camp, he partially tore his ACL and Meniscus. Continuing his athletic urges in pre-season football practice, he completely tore what was left of his ACL and Meniscus as well as a MCL sprain.

An injury this serious needed immediate surgery. “I never expected this to happen,” said Reiker. Under anesthetics, the doctors cut off part of Reiker’s patella tendon to replace the ACL. The doctors then proceeded to put two stitches on the Meniscus and scraped it clean to endue healing. Reiker’s basic recovery will take six to eight months after his surgery. He received a special brace that extends the majority of his leg for the first twelve weeks. The remainder the recovery he will receive another brace.

Reiker’s physical therapy has started off slowly with him stretching his leg by using an elliptical bike and walking around. The next step will be to have him swimming to make more motion. Therapy will then progress to air squats and jogging then to running. The last stage will be working on jumping and cutting. Therapy will take place over the six to eight post-surgery months. After the recovery months, all the sports and activities Reiker participates in he will be required to wear a protective brace.

His knee will take one to two years to be back to 100%, his Lateral Meniscus will take two plus years to be back to full recovery. The lifelong downfall from his injury will be that he has to get a knee replacement when he will be in his mid-40s.

His junior athletic career has come to a halt. He was not allowed to play in any football game. For wrestling, there is a slim chance his ACL will be healed enough to make regionals due to the fact that the Meniscus is not vital to wrestle. The doctors still see a small chance for him making the wrestling season at all. With soccer in the spring, Reiker hopes to be completely healed to make the state tournament. While wrestling is more strength, technique, and smaller movements, soccer is more running based. The running based sport shows more problems to the Meniscus and knee’s recovery due to full motion of his leg.

“Not being able to be physical and active is the worst part about this,” said Reiker.

Once Reiker has made a full recovery, he plans to get in the best shape of his life.

Reiker said, “I have always been in a sport constantly. My whole world was pretty much turned upside down.”

Only time will tell if Reiker will participate in any of his varsity sports his junior year.