Maeve Madura knew instantly that her freshman season had ended when during her pre-season practice, rolling around the goal, she cut hard and felt a pop in her knee.

Madura, class of 2024 graduate, was the star player last year at Morgan with a total of 4.7 goals a game and an overall of 236 goals. She is now a freshman lacrosse player at Wesleyan University.  Just as she was getting more comfortable with her new team, she unfortunately suffered an ACL and meniscus tear that would cut her season short.

From the moment Madura arrived on campus in September of 2024, she started training. Her team is very competitive with driven goals as last year was very successful, they went 13-2 overall but lost in the NCAA tournament in the third round. 

The fall of her freshman year of college consisted of mostly strength and conditioning workouts 3–4 days a week, including lifting because “it’s crucial to build lower body strength for power and agility.”

“I was glad I was able to participate in the pre-season because now I know for next year what to expect, speed of play and physically wise,” said Madura. 

Madura’s injury occurred in one of her practices around a month of training, without even being able to play a game yet. She knew right when she fell behind the goal that this fall was abnormal and something was off. She felt a pop and almost automatically knew it was her ACL. Shortly after the fall, she visited the doctor for an MRI for clarification. Just like her prediction, it was her ACL.

Throughout this injury, Madura has held her head high. “Getting back to this sport is not going to be easy, but it’s nothing I am not ready for,” Madura said. 

Around one month after the injury, she could do a lot like walk, run, and jump with proper rehab and physical therapy. She was able to strengthen her leg muscles so she didn’t injure herself or cause more pain. She ran a mile one month after she got hurt because she wanted to prove that she could run with only one ACL. 

However, things changed after surgery, Madura had a mental block as she realized she wouldn’t be able to play for months. Madura has been lucky all her life with no serious injury, this was a big change for her. With being hurt, she started to focus more on her academics as she can’t practice or play in games.

Since then, Madura has been improving day by day. ”I enjoy the little wins because that is all I really have to bring me happiness, whether it’s being able to get up on my own or even doing a leg lift, this is what makes this process easier.” 

Outside of athletics, Madura’s studies have been going well. Although she remains an undecided major, she plans to double major in psych and government in the following school year. As she reaches the end of her first year at Wesleyan, finals are approaching quickly, Madura is stressed from being home for two weeks to recover from surgery. Not being in class with her professor is difficult because she is not getting the in-person experience of college. 

Madura appreciates her professors greatly as “they have been very accommodating to my injury and doing everything they can to help aid in my academics and my recovery process” explains Madura. 

Madura’s teammates have not been forgotten, she is constantly surrounded by them, which has been “the biggest blessing ever because I have never met a more welcoming, inclusive, genuine group of girls” Madura describes.

Madura has a great, loving team by her side, receiving around ten texts a day just wondering how she is doing and caring about her recovery process. 

This injury has taught Madura it is not for the weak. She finds inspiration in the athletes who have returned from an ACL and meniscus tear who has found success. “I don’t focus on the things I can’t do anymore, instead focus on my own problems and overcoming them”