Aug. 30, 2010
It is ok to laugh when you hear the Cleveland State women's soccer team call one of their teammates `Grandma.'
That nickname is reserved for defender Jessica McCloy, the fifth-year player who was medically red-shirted after a terrible knee injury that ended her 2009 season with the Vikings. Although many athletes would rehab and possibly return, McCloy's road was much more treacherous and had already been through a lot.
"Everyday, it's still surreal," McCloy, a Cincinnati native, said as she began to tell her tale. "I am reminded everyday that I am living the dream." McCloy began her collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, but could not catch a break. Her freshman year was a nightmare, more than any other incoming student.
"I didn't make the team after trying out and it as really hard for me," she said. "I thought I was going to go there, play soccer, and be living the life."
However, after playing club soccer and getting a second attempt to try out for the Colonials, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing softball and her hopes of playing close to her home had been dashed. Being cut once was bad, but adding an injury mades it impossible for McCloy.
"I thought I twisted my knee at first, but after I knew what happened I was at the lowest of the lows, I was down in the dumps about it," she recalled.
Six months later, she had surgery on her right knee, but sports were not the last thing on her mind, as one would expect.
"When I was sitting at home right after surgery, I was watching the World Series of Softball and watching soccer on television and I decided to play again."
Looking at schools, McCloy narrowed her choices down and had it down to Old Dominican (in Columbus, OH) and Cleveland State.
"I was pretty close with my high school coach Scott (Dearing) who knew (Cleveland State head coach) Derrek Falor," she explained. "People always say `network, network' and this is the one time it worked for me."
McCloy's coach from high school had to pursue that Jessica was the right fit for Derrek and his program at Cleveland State, as he had a defender that was coming off a serious knee injury. Not to mention Derrek was starting a program of his own, that had a rocky first year.
Derrek put all his trust into Dearing's words and McCloy also adds that she never found out what he had said to the Vikings head coach. "I cannot thank Scott and Derrek enough for what they did for me," she said. "When I met Derrek he said `I know you are coming back from injury, but you earn your spot here and we will take it from there.'"
The 2007 and 2008 seasons were one of the best for McCloy as a Viking. After the transfer in the spring, she was able to get back up to match speed, but she was able to get to know her teammates and make an easier transition. Not only was the 2007 a chance for the Viking program to continue to grow after their first year, but it was also a chance for McCloy to return to fitness.
"When I returned to play I was so happy," McCloy said. "I was happy to have a jersey, I'm playing on a college team, and my name is on a website. It did not matter if I did anything else, I was just happy to be on the team. It was amazing" Highs were abundant for McCloy and her teammates in 2008. McCloy scored the game winning overtime goal for the Vikings in a 2-1 win over Youngstown State, but her biggest highlight was a win over her former school.
"I thought I was going to die that game," she said about the 1-0 win over Eastern Kentucky. "I never felt so emotionally, physically, mentally or emotionally into a game until that match. I literally got the last laugh as my kick was the last kick of the game."
McCloy scored the goal against Youngstown State, but also had key goals as the Vikings would set a then school record of eight wins in a season.
"The team was so close. We played as a team and it was amazing to have that," McCloy said. "I was great to know that we were somebody and that people would stop overlooking us and we got the respect that we deserved."
There was no reason not to think 2009, Jessica's senior year, would be the same. McCloy even scored the team's first goal in a 3-0 exhibition win against Gannon. "I was probably the most fittest I have ever been in my life and had so many goals for myself. I thought I was going to get on All-Horizon League and we were going to have a great year." Kent State had been a focus point for the Vikings and Jessica was ready for the challenge; even her parents drove up to see her play.
But then disaster struck.
"There was a throw in and I was coming across the field," she recalled. "Planted, the girl ran though me and I just knew it. When I went down I knew it was really bad." "My dad was on the sidelines," McCloy said as she began to cry during the interview. "You just know that everything you worked for is gone." "Everybody knew it," she said. "The physician knew it; the trainers knew it, too, but nobody told me, which was good. I knew it but I was never going to give up. I kept thinking, `let's wait to see the MRI.' I had to pull it together for them.
"When the trainer from Kent State did the ACL test he said that nothing was there. I took the coin toss for overtime and we won it. It was great because you knew people were playing for you. The same time I was thinking what to do now. It hurt so much more than the first knee injury, but that was also because it meant so much more."
Compared to her first knee injury, McCloy had to wait a month to have surgery since the knee was so badly swollen. Altogether, she tore her ACL and her meniscus. Her year was done and quite possibly her career was over since it was her senior year.
"I knew I had only technically played two seasons. Everything was done after the injury, but we need to try again," she said. Right after the surgery McCloy was already asking about another medical red shirt, looking for another year to play.
"It was a tough predicament," she explained. "I did not want to get too close to the team if I was not going to get the red shirt and not return for another year, but at the same time I did not want to stay too far away since I am part of the team. I was walking a thin line."
Her physical rehab went well, working with the Cleveland Clinic twice a week. Just six months later, she was practicing and running. Because of the injury and the rehab, Jessica was well behind the conditioning that collegiate athletes go though in the off-season to be ready for the next year.
"There would be times I'd cry in practice because some things were just too commanding for the knee. It was also hard because I thought `If I don't come back, would it matter?'"
Although she was getting back to the point where she would be physically able to return, the big question remained.
"I knew I was graduating in May, so I was looking up graduate school for other places and getting on with my life without soccer. I had to start thinking where I wanted to live, if I should apply to Ohio University for Sports Management."
Jessica finished with a degree in Public Relations in Advertising with a minor in Marketing and is currently working on her Sports Management degree at CSU.
"Then I thought about returning to Cleveland State for another year of soccer. It was like a tug-of-war with yourself. I had a feeling like I was coming back, but if not; I talked myself to accept not playing again."
The news came from her teammate over the phone that she would return for one more year as a Viking. McCloy first called her parents and then it was time to rejoice.
Fast forward to the beginning of the 2010 season and McCloy has already scored two goals and changed her position on the field. The outside back now completes a tough defensive Viking line and has contributed to her goals
"I want to score a lot of goals, preferably by headers, but I also want to get out of this year healthy," she said. "Everyday is a mental battle since I still have fears of hurting the knee or something else. I want be the best I can for my teammates, we are going to do awesome this year. We have always given up goals and I want to change that.
"No matter what happens, I want to leave it all on the field. I want to make sure I have no regrets. I think I will be ok since my goal was originally to get back onto the field and I lost track after that. I still feel that I am not completely where I want to be, everyday is a battle and try to get better. It's all about getting the little things right."
