PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Twenty two minutes into the first game of her senior season, it appeared Savannah Rodriguez had competed for the final time in her varsity career as a Presque Isle Wildcat.
During the Sept. 1 home game against Ellsworth, the senior goalkeeper punted the ball, an act she had performed hundreds of times during practices and games. This time something went wrong. She collapsed to the ground, was assisted off the field and, five days later, an MRI revealed she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament.
The ACL prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur and provides rotational stability to the knee, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A torn ACL is an injury that requires surgery to repair and 9-12 months of recovery time, but amazingly, on Thursday Rodriguez started in Presque Isle’s home game against Old Town and played the entire first half in a 6-0 victory.
“It felt really good to be back,” she said following the match. “To get something taken away and then to get another life, it’s pretty awesome.”
Rodriguez only touched the ball three or four times and didn’t have to make any difficult saves, but said she felt comfortable throughout taking punts and moving around.
She admitted to being “a little sore” after the game, but expected that following her regular treatment of ibuprofen and ice, she would be ready for a light practice Friday and plans to get the start again and hopes to play the entirety of Saturday’s home match against undefeated Hermon, the No. 1 team in Class B North.
She’s been going to rehab three times a week and working with Aaron Marston at Northern Physical Therapy. Marston could not be reached for comment, but her father, Pedro Rodriguez, said Marston feels Savannah Rodriguez is a unique patient.
“He’s been saying all along that he has been treating a patient that certainly doesn’t appear like she has a torn ACL,” Pedro Rodriguez said.
She has been put through a series of exercises, including squats and defensive side shuffles, has pedaled a stationary bike and run on the treadmill, and has responded well. The next step was being fitted for a brace to stabilize the knee during activity.
Pedro Rodriguez said Dan White of Northern Prosthetics and Orthotics handled that part and on Sept. 26 it arrived, customized with Wildcat colors. The following day, Savannah Rodriguez practiced with the team and her coach, Ralph Michaud, was amazed.
Savannah Rodriguez greets teammates after being introducted as part of the starting lineup for Thursday’s home match against Old Town. Rodriguez had been sidelined since Sept. 1 after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament. (Kevin Sjoberg)
“I honestly couldn’t believe how well she moved and she was doing everything you want your goalkeeper doing,” Michaud said. “She hadn’t done anything in a month so the next day she said she was really sore, but for her you could tell it was like having a new lease on life. She couldn’t believe she was out competing again.”
Rodriguez admitted it’s been a long, difficult last five weeks, but was excited about her return to the field.
“There’s definitely been some sleepless nights and it’s been hard on myself and my family, really hard,” she said. “But we try to have a positive outlook on everything and I knew since the phone call [revealing the MRI results) that I was going to come back. I didn’t have a doubt in my mind and I was determined to come back no matter what.”
Rodriguez’s motivation during the comeback has come from multiple sources.
“My family has been incredible and they never doubted me,” she said. “The support of my teammates and coaches, and the community, has been crazy and has definitely kept me going.”
Pedro Rodriguez is thankful for all the support he and his family have received regarding the injury.
Savannah Rodriguez made her return to the field Thursday for the home match against Old Town. The Presque Isle senior had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Sept. 1, but was cleared to practice last week. (Kevin Sjoberg)
“I work with the public and there is not a day that goes by where someone doesn’t ask about Savannah,” he said.
“My wife [Rose] and I went into this year knowing Savannah’s [high school] athletic career was coming to an end and Savannah has always been one who has never ceased to amaze us with her accomplishments, so this has been devastating,” he added, “but we know God does things for a reason and all the signs are starting to make sense for her to come back.”
Savannah Rodriguez says she’s taking it day by day, but her long-term goal is to still be able to play basketball and softball this school year and then have surgery next summer. She then plans to attend the University of Maine at Presque Isle next fall to pursue a degree in physical education and become a teacher and a coach.
“I’ve thought a lot about it and I’m determined to play the rest of my high school career,” Rodriguez said. “Our family has a saying that ‘you can rest when your dead.’ I’m not ready to put the cleats and the shoes up for sure.
“I still feel I have a lot in me and I’m ready to see what I can do with a torn ACL,” she added.
