My name is Nicole Guenther, I was born in California and moved to Australia when I was 2. At the age of 8 I decided I wanted to start playing netball, having no idea what the sport was. Now ten years later I'm playing and practicing it almost everyday!
Recently I began my first semester at USC pursuing a degree in graphic design however later switched to a degree in UX design, which involves designing apps and websites for businesses as well as coding them. The HPSA has assisted a-lot in terms of helping me manage my load and taking away unnecessary stress by providing the ability for flexibility on assignments. The HPSA student lounge is like a bridge between my two common training locations. It is the perfect spot to take a time out from sport and recit your focus academically, while also being in a very convenient place. There is no need to rush around to get things done.
Through my netball journey I have had my fair share in wearing the maroon dress and training with high performance teams. While not as glorious my most grand achievement is not a result or selection that can simply be located on the internet. For me, overcoming a ACL and meniscal root tear has given me a sense of accomplishment and pride that simply can't be described.
On May 19th 2018 we (the QLD 17/U team) where facing NSW on the third day of the annual Nationals tournament, held in Adelaide. Across the two days leading to this match I had played a total 10 out of 12 of the 10 minute quarters, against states such as Victoria, WA, TAS, ACT. All in my new, recently learned position at the time, Centre. Honestly, I had never thought my heart rate could reach its maximum but after playing my first full game in that position on the first day I believe it came rather close.
This tournament for me was an accomplishment in itself; finally, being taken seriously as a mid-court player and actually feeling semi comfortable wearing that bib. This new confidence and skill level couldn't have been ignited at a more perfect time, as I was gunning for a spot in the 17/U Australian Squad.
During the 2nd quarter of the QLD vs NSW match my goal keeper had won herself a marvelous intercept, as I was the player in the most convenient spot I made an offer to the ball, using my speed and leaving my defender behind me. I was up in the air, ball in hand and at the peak of my jump my defender had just caught up to me. She hit me right on my side although it felt more like I collided with a steam train, rather than a person. Still in the air now being flung to the left I felt a buckle in my left knee. I remember knowing something wasn't right before I even landed and for some reason in a series of about 3 seconds I had time to ask myself "how the heck am I going to land this safely." When I did land I felt my entire leg just tighten up, I have never had to call an injury time out, not once in ten years of playing. Being injured was foreign to me.
Honestly, for the remaining 3 days of competition it was a struggle to fight back tears just watching games in which I trained for so long to been apart of. It was partially hard too as I had been a bench player the previous year and was finally getting a chance to hold this new starting 7 status.
In the past I always tried to do everything right. I am a perfectionist and if I'm honest I'm rather hard on myself, so this tournament was huge for me. I finally felt though I had won in a battle against myself, I felt like I was getting everything I had worked so hard for.
After my injury I felt as though my mid-court journey was starting out from square one all over again. I felt as though just as I was getting ahead of the competition for those glorious three days I was almost instantly stripped of that feeling. This sounds bad but I couldn't help thinking it should have been someone else and for so long I found myself feeling sorry for myself. While it may seem like that's what I'm doing now, I promise you there is a powerful message behind all this.
As every great set back story goes matters just seemed to get worse. I had developed three large blood clots in my calf prolonging my surgery and extending my long term return to netball by 6 weeks. A staff member from my home team at the time also deemed it "unnecessary for me to continue attending team gym sessions" and revoked my membership from the gym and more importantly the team. I was stressed for weeks as I believed I couldn't do it on my own, I thought I needed someone of a high performance coach status to enhance the results of my rehab.
I trained alone everyday, did rehab alone everyday from then up until about March this year. Honestly it was a struggle to kept motivated but if it weren't for that time alone I probably wouldn't have even said my return from injury was my greatest achievement. During that time it was a though something clicked, for once in my life I wasn't afraid of failure because I knew the ball was 100% in my court. I knew there was absolutely nothing that could limit my success; no selector to tell me I wasn't good enough and to come back next year, no umpire to call a contact for that perfectly clean intercept. The success lied purely in my hands, with no politics, no limitations. I controlled when I got my clearance, this was all on me and how far I was willing to push my body. That's when the motivation overcame fear. I knew this was one of those rare opportunities within my sport where hard work 100% guaranteed a successful outcome. This mind set allowed me to finally respect myself as an athlete, and actually commend myself on how well I was doing. I admit I'm still hard on myself and some days that mental war with my own confidence still exists. But I am doing so much better and because of my knee I genuinely believe I can do anything I set my mind to. I know what I am capable of and am so willing to learn.
While it may take me longer then some people, I know eventually all of my hard work WILL pay off. I implement this mindset not only in sport but also in everyday life. This has forced me to seek passion and genuinely wake up excited to live each day, knowing I can make something great happen.
