In any way.
Although the words "meniscus" and "ACL" have derailed many a promising athletic career... if not physically, then mentally. I knew this kid had the moxie and wherewithal to not let it beat her.
But how does one react when after all the rehab... all the reps... all the things behind the scenes and no one sees... all those moments that are twisted between desire and self doubt in an attempt to somehow find your old self again... and just when you THINK you're finding your way back???
It happens again.
Taylor Fricke came into high school at East Marshall High in LeGrand with her reputation preceding her. Dominant in middle school leading her teammates to undefeated campaigns in softball and basketball for two seasons, she was the lynchpin that the varsity coaches couldn't wait to get their hands on to see if that success could translate to the varsity level.
Unrealistic pressure built on the fool's gold foundation that is middle school victories? Sure. But every school sees this. "The Next Big Thing" as we've all seen it time and time again through the years.
Miss Fricke was just that. And just when her fledgling career on the diamond and hardcourt was set to take off.. it was derailed.
Big time.
A three-on-three basketball tournament in May of 2011 was the culprit on the right knee just as Taylor was prepping to earn her way onto the Coach Jary Hoskey's conference championship Mustang softball squad. She didn't take even one swing that summer for EM as she feverishly worked to get back for her freshman year of basketball.
That freshman campaign was tentative at best, as the now braced up freshman sensation was clearly slowed and struggling to gain the confidence back that made her so dangerous in the first place. By the time softball rolled around in the summer of 2012, however.. . her swag was back. A first team all NICL Conference honor was garnered, and more importantly the first state tournament appearance in almost two decades was earned with Taylor quietly leading the way she always has... with her play on the field.
But just when things seemed to be completely back on track, her left knee buckled in the eighth game of her sophomore basketball season.
Talk about a gut punch.
In a testament to her intestinal fortitude and her stubborn heart of a champion, Taylor went back to rehab. This time even more dedicated... more intensity... more desire... more I'll-Show-All-Ya'all. And what did it lead to?
Coach Hoskey needed his all-conference 1st basemen to move to 3rd base.... All-Conference, another appearance at State. This last year saw her move to shortstop... No problem. A team leading nine homeruns... All-Conference... 1st Team All-State ... on a team that finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in Class 3A and made it's third straight trip to Fort Dodge for the state tournament, finishing fourth overall..
She's hit 21 career homeruns and is just two RBI's short of becoming the schools career leader in the category. Toss in a first team all NICL honor in hoops on a team that Coach Missy Pieters has poised to make a run at the conference title this year? I'd say Taylor Fricke is back.
All the way back.
It was particularly rewarding for me to photograph Taylor's session. I graduated high school with her father... We go WAY back to hard streets of Gilman where we grew up in our massive class of 22. I also photographed Taylor's adorable step-sister Miranda back in 2010. A pint-sized 3-point marksman in her own right back in the day, Miss Barela made a return appearance at the studio for Taylor's session as her style specialist and confidant.
What Taylor DIDN'T know was that her sister would turn the tables on her by INTENTIONALLY and REPEATEDLY trying to burn Taylor's retina's with our super bright reflector on our sunny Thursday morning.
She might be small... but don't let her fool ya... she's DANGEROUS.
:)
All in all the day was filled with tons of laughs, reminiscing and catching up with my old friend Mark's daughters. While Taylor has all the confidence in the world athletically... I could tell that she initially felt like a benchwarmer being asked to pinch hit in the bottom of the 7th with two outs in front of my camera. She just wanted to pictures to turn out... that's all.
Well... I think you'll all agree that we did better than that. Taylor also admitted that she was worried about what I might write in this blog space... and if she hadn't figured it out already... I think the world of Taylor Fricke and her folks. And while she and her sister made me think for a second that the session may never begin at all as they BLEW by me in their car and went around the block that morning as I was walking over to the post office to drop off the mail at 7:30 a.m.... I'll say with 100% certainty that I'm glad they came back.
Just like I'm glad Taylor came back from her knee injuries.
Both times.
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