"I would really like to thank my family for putting up with me through the years and rehabilitation. It was such a hard process, and at times I would get fussy with them, not realizing everything they have done for me. My parents made sure I had the top knee surgeon and physical therapist around, just so that I could have the slight chance to put my cleats back on or stand in the ring one last time. They have pushed me through the pain when I wanted to just be done, and for that I would like to say thank you one last time before I head off to college,” said state track qualifier Kaitlyn Pickering.
Throughout the last few years, Pickering has had quite a time with surgeries and torn muscles. Making her recent senior year season of softball her last and therefore deciding to pursue a different path of athletic endeavor in college: track.
“I had gone through a very rough ankle surgery, and then soon after that, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and meniscus. That led me to need a huge reconstruction surgery. My head position was catching in softball, but I’m ready to give my legs the break they need and have decided to participate in track at the college level instead,” Pickering said.
Pickering was able to qualify to the state level for track and field her senior year due to her throwing a 124’4” for discus. For only two years Pickering has been throwing discus, so for her making it to the state level so early on spoke so much to her.
“It felt very good to be able to even qualify for state because I have had to jump over many obstacles to make it to where I am today. I had two career-ending injuries, but I didn’t let that stop me. I pushed through and made it to Bloomington. It was very relieving to me just to know that I was able to make it so far in such little time of competing in Discus,” said Pickering.
For her future educational and athletic career, Pickering will be attending Indiana University Kokomo in the fall. At Kokomo, she hopes to receive her Bachelor's in Radiology Technology with the goal to one day become a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technician. While participating in track her junior and senior year, Pickering reconnected with an old friend, Maya Lavendusky, who also was able to qualify for state recently. Since rejoining track her junior year, Pickering and Lavendusky have been super close friends. She feels that becoming best friends with Lavendusky has allowed her and Lavendusky to break their shells and build one another up in the athletic climate.
For Lavendusky the recent adventure to state her second time around was something she enjoyed very much due to seeing new faces in the competition aspect. In her four years at Portage High School (PHS) Lavendusky was a part of the track team for all of them and is glad she decided to stick around and continue throwing. Her years spent in track paid off when she got an athletic and academic scholarship from Concordia Saint Paul (CSP). At CSP, Lavendusky has decided for her major to be biochemistry due to her passion for science and the medical field.
Lavendusky would like to mention that joining a club or two, or a team or two is something everyone should try out because you never know just how good you could really be. Throughout her time at PHS, Lavendusky was a part of many clubs, sports, and music groups. She now realizes that being a part of something bigger than yourself only makes you better than you were before.
“Sports, and any after-school activity for the matter, are huge fundamental factors for success in youth. Personally, my parents kept me constantly busy growing up and that really shaped me into the successful person I am now. I have time management skills, people skills, drive, and much much more. Granted not everyone is fitted to be “collegiate” athletes or musicians or dancers, but I fully believe that everyone has something they're good at! It may take some time to find what you’re good at, but I promise you it’s worth it. Allow yourself time to explore, your body and mind will thank you later,” said Lavendusky.