The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Hoevemeyer overcomes injuries to become soccer force
Sophomore a key Big Red despite breaks in both hips in a year
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
Katy Hoevemeyer has had some tough breaks, but she hasn't let them slow her down, not on the soccer field and not in life.
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In the past year, the 16-year-old has broken both her hips, but has recovered to become a significant force on the Milan girls' varsity soccer team.
Hoevemeyer broke her right hip as a freshman during a varsity game against Grosse Ile last year. She was illegally tackled and overextended her leg, snapping the growth plate on her right hip.
She spent the next six weeks on crutches, and it certainly wasn't how she envisioned her freshman debut on the varsity squad as ending.
It was frustrating, she said.
But it was downright maddening when she broke her other hip this spring while running during basketball conditioning.
"I was looking forward to starting off the soccer year without any injuries," she said. "It was something of a bummer. It put me a little behind."
But Hoevemeyer didn't let the unfortunate break - or breaks — stop her.
After another six weeks on crutches and time spent with the team trainer building her muscle strength back up and regular visits to a chiropractor, Hoevemeyer is back on the pitch and ready to contribute to the team's bid for a district title.
"There's some aching and soreness," she said, "but there's no pain. Nothing I can't deal with."
"She has a great attitude," said coach Russ Billau. "She's a lot of fun to be around and works real hard."
As an outside defender, Hoevemeyer is expected to be tenacious and uncompromising, and she hasn't allowed her injuries to make her more tentative.
"I love the position," she said. "You can get away a little more with being aggressive."
Billau likes to hear that.
"That's what makes her a good player," he said. "She's not afraid to be physical and mix it up. On the soccer field, she turns into a bulldog."
Hoevemeyer is optimistic about achieving this year's team goals.
"I think we work better as a team now," she said. "I think we all want to win districts. I think we have a pretty good chance."
They just need a couple breaks - of the lucky sort — and no one deserves a good break more than Hoevemeyer.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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