Sophomore Zoe Conner-Bennett of Ocean Township had been participating in gymnastics, basketball and softball in seventh grade, but after landing unusually on a trampoline during gymnastics, she never played organized sports again.

In seventh grade, she tore her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which connects the femur to the tibia.

Connor-Bennett underwent surgery to repair the ligament. While recovering, she missed two basketball seasons and one softball season, and was forced to end her involvement in all three sports.

“By that point, it was just too late to go back,” Connor-Bennett said.

Junior Nikki Yan Beeber of Marlboro played softball for her home high school, Marlboro High School. After playing the sport for ten years, Yan Beeber hurt her arm and was unable to return to the field.

“I threw out my arm, and I had to wrap it up so I didn’t overexert it. I realized after that that I was pushing myself too hard,” Yan Beeber said. “The pain just got to be too much.”

Freshman Jacob Irwin of Middletown injured himself while bouldering, a type of rock climbing where there are no ropes or harnesses, in middle school. He sustained many minor injuries over time, and frequently hurt his wrists from falling.

Irwin explained that while the injuries took a physical toll on him, it didn’t negatively affect his outlook on the sport.

“I knew it was a pretty dangerous sport when I started doing it… I could have kept doing it, but I probably wouldn’t have been able to do as much as I used to, ” Irwin said.

Junior Ainsley Vetter of Wall, who has been figure skating for over ten years, recently dislocated her knee during a figure skating competition. This injury prohibited her from competing for three months.

Since returning to figure skating, Vetter continues performing and practicing the way she had previously, and said she doesn’t let the possibility of injury bother her.

“I was scared when I first came back, but now I’m okay,” Vetter said.