Weeks before the State meet, junior Asha Patel needed crutches to walk. Somehow, she ended the season in the top ten overall in the State on beam.
A true testament to Patel’s determination and team first mentality was when she was diagnosed with a stress fractured fibula. She took a brief week off, and while resting, one of her teammates broke their arm. With both injuries, the team thought their season would be over, but not Patel. After hearing the news, she came back immediately and continued competing.
Patel’s first meet back was Conference, where she competed in beam and bars with severe leg pain. She helped LFVG clinch their three-peat, back to back to back Conference title.
Patel’s leg pain eventually became so severe that she thought Sectionals was going to be her last. When Patel completed what she thought her final beam routine would be for her junior year, she ended up hitting a perfect routine, making her score high enough for her to automatically qualify for State.
“When I was told that I qualified not just for beam, but for all-around and floor too, I was so happy,” Patel said. “I was a little nervous after reality set in about my leg, but I realized that I had an opportunity to place.”
Going into State, Patel was over the moon. Something that felt so unachievable and unfathomable, considering she needed crutches to walk just a few weeks prior. Patel’s preparation wasn’t typical in a typical fashion. Instead, her coach and a few teammates eased her nerves with some fun and easy practices to settle her mind before State.
For Patel, the first day of State was full of anxiety. Friday was painful and frustrating. “I was ready for the day to be over. I was so frustrated with myself on vault and bars that I felt like my State run was over right as it was starting.”
She took a deep breath and went into the beam rotation with a fresh mind and a clean slate. She felt lighter and allowed herself to have fun, letting the pressure come off and letting herself do her thing.
Following the first beam routine, she placed fourth. Automatically qualifying her for the second day.
“I truly had no thought that I would be able to make it to day 2; that felt like such an impossible task because of the physical state I was in. It was a fever dream moment watching the top 10 placements come in for the first day, and to see my name on that list,” Patel said.
Entering day two, her leg was beyond sore, and her pain had reached a new level. Asha was at a high risk of compartment syndrome: a severe condition where swelling and pressure build up within enclosed muscle compartments, restricting blood flow and risking permanent nerve/muscle damage. One of the only ways to relieve compartment syndrome is emergency surgery to relieve the internal pressure.
One of the only things that got Asha through the pain in her leg was her self-talk. She told herself, “You are leaving here top 10 in the state no matter what happens,” which is a key component in calming her nerves.
Her warmups felt good, as good as they could be considering her pain, and her excitement outweighed the pain.
In reality, day two wasn’t as good as she hoped. Asha was the only person competing when she had her rotation. The announcer did a full introduction for her before she competed, an unavoidable and unpredictable hurdle. It added a lot to her nerves.
Ultimately, day two was strong. She ended up placing 7/52. Seventh place is an admirable finish at a solo competition.
“I was overjoyed with how I placed, especially doing it when my leg wasn’t 100%,” Patel said.
In the end, Asha’s state run wasn’t about medals or placements, it was about her character, perseverance, determination, selflessness, and heart. To compete through a stress fracture and risk future injury and compartment syndrome, Asha proved that determination can carry a true athlete to success.
