For any dedicated sports player, an injury is devastating. For some, the fear of getting an injury could even deter them from playing. But senior and girls basketball team captain Emily Esposito, who tore her ACL a month ago, has no regrets. In fact, even though she cannot play, she continues to be there for her team.

“Emily is the best example of the Lady Spartan Basketball attitude: [she is] positive, helpful, competitive, desires to do her best, and always puts the team ahead of herself,” said Varsity basketball coach Bill Gibson. “She is a winner and someone who will be truly missed in the basketball program and WS.”

Esposito was playing the Senior Night game for basketball when she felt her calf give in, but she stood up and kept running.

Then later into the game, her leg slid out from under her, with a sensation like her knee had popped out. She could no longer keep running, so her dad and brother carried her out of the court.

“I was more mad that I was down than worried [about my knee],” said Esposito.

During the time that followed, as doctors waited on a diagnosis, Esposito continued to go to every practice. Then the verdict came. Esposito remembers clearly her mother’s ghost-white face as she told Emily that her ACL, one of the major ligaments connecting the leg to the knee, was completely gone.

“I don’t cry, but when she said that I thought of sports, I thought of my team, and it kind of killed me,” said Esposito.

She finished the rest of the basketball season without playing, but continued to act as the team captain by motivating the girls from the sidelines. This year, Lady Spartans had a great season, making it to state semifinals.  Esposito was there cheering them on all the way.

“Don’t think just because you’re hurt that it’s all over,” said Esposito. “It’s so much more than being in the sport. Don’t let your injury stop you, you still need to be there physically and mentally for the team.”

She cannot undergo surgery yet because of bone bruising, but the doctors are injecting healthy platelets into the few fibers of ligament left in order to make the body heal itself. If she is able to have surgery, it would involve removing part of her hamstring and substituting it for the missing ACL.

Her injury affects her every moment: she does physical therapy to keep her legs balanced, she is dependent upon crutches to get around, and once her knee popped out when she was putting on jeans.

“I’m never going to be able to go out [on the court] and say, ‘Let’s turn my knee really fast,’” said Esposito.

Even though her knee will always be in the back of her mind, Esposito, who hopes to be able to play sports again after surgery, continues to have a positive attitude. She wants to play club or intramural lacrosse in college.

“They ask me if I regret playing basketball,” said Esposito. “I don’t. There’s no way. I gotta go out with a bang somehow.”