Senior Autumn Ballesteros entered her final high school season of girls’ basketball with high hopes. However, these hopes became unattainable when she seriously injured herself while playing in a home game against Bloomington Kennedy on Friday, Jan. 9.

Ballesteros said she moved in to get a rebound and bumped into a player from the opposing team.

“My team was on offense and a shot went up and I went for the rebound against another girl. I jumped to swat the ball from her hands and we bumped into each other while in the air. I landed straight legged and heard a variety of different pops and cracks in my knee,” Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros initially did not feel pain, but when she tried to stand up, she knew she was injured.

“My initial thought was that it was nothing, but as I tried to stand up the pain started shooting up my knee,” Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), cartilage and sprained her lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

Ballesteros believes the team could find success if they continue to improve on defense during practice.

“I had a big defensive role on the team, so I think if my teammates continue to work hard on their defense at practice things can turn out in their favor,” Ballesteros said.

Not only is Ballesteros unable to participate in the remainder of the season, the injury may also impact her future plans to join the Marines.

“As of right now, all of my future plans are at jeopardy. A couple of months ago I won the Marine NROTC scholarship of $180,000 for college, and then to be a second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. There’s a possibility of me losing that scholarship because of this injury,” Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros has a surgery scheduled in February and will attend physical therapy three times per week until then. After her surgery, it will take her six to nine months until she is fully recovered.

“Right now, all I can do is work to fully recover and hope for the best,” Ballesteros said.