Lawrence County senior wins Comeback Player award
Published 5:00 pm Thursday, February 22, 2024
- Kapresha Courtney, center, was named KDMC's Comeback Player by Capital Ortho Wednesday. (Hunter Cloud | The Daily Leader)
BROOKHAVEN — Lawrence County Senior Kapresha Courtney was named the King’s Daughter Medical Center Comeback Player by Capital Ortho Wednesday. Courtney suffered a knee injury during volleyball season but rebounded quickly.
Courtney said she is not exactly sure when she tore her MCL but she discovered it was torn in August. She had knee pain and went to Capital Ortho to get it checked out. Her surgery was done in September at the hospital and she moved immediately to rehab.
Volleyball may have been the cause of the injury. She said it was the last thing she remembered doing before her knee started to hurt. In the exam room at Capital Ortho, the staff told her the news.
“I was scared a little bit. I knew I could be out for three months playing basketball,” Courtney said. “I got back to practicing after three weeks after surgery. I was shocked. On my post surgery follow up, Shelby King looked at my knee and told me I was healing pretty good.”
Courtney said she asked if she could practice the next week. King told her to wait two weeks so she did. The recovery was faster than she expected.
Since recovery, she has helped lead the team to an 18-10 season, 8-2 in district play, and a third round playoff appearance. Lawrence County plays against Quitman at Pearl River Community College Saturday at 1 p.m.
“I thought I wouldn’t play anymore after the injury. I thought at least I had a good time last year,” Courtney said. “My surgery was before my birthday. We had a homecoming game when I had surgery and I actually went to the game and was on my crutch. I feel good now. It hasn’t been hurting but at first it would. I’m able to do everything.”
Her senior season of basketball will come to an end eventually and graduation is on the horizon. She said she plans to go to Pearl River Community College after high school and earn an associates degree in nursing.
Courtney’s heart has been set on nursing as a career ever since she was little.
Dr. Chris Kneip said Courtney had done an outstanding job of bouncing back from the injury. He said recovery times can vary for different people and the severity of the injury. Knee injuries can be tough to bounce back from.
“In generalities, she has done an outstanding job and flown through the recovery process with minimal complaints or swelling each step of the way,” Kneip said. “She has been ahead of the game. We are super thankful when it is that way. She has done great and flown through it.”