Andonia Kavouras is a high school athlete at Struthers High School. The athlete is a junior who is a part of the Interact Club, Future Teachers Club, Medical Careers Club and also in Student Council. Kavouras works at Aqua Pazzo, has played three seasons of volleyball and also maintains a 3.5 GPA.
The athlete has faced many struggles during the season, from injuries to mental blocks, but has still overcome each challenge. She has torn her ACL twice; the first time being during her freshman year and the second time happening as a junior.
Kavouras had faced two struggles, while having surgery for both. Although the surgeries were the same, she ultimately believes the second one was much harder than the first.
“The second time was one hundred percent worse because of the surgery. I was in surgery for double the first time,” says Kavouras.
The team has faced hardships from losing the junior for two seasons, but has faced harder ones. Kavouras was set back by missing the off season; she tried to pursue the ability to continue growing and was stopped by every athlete’s biggest fear. She tore her ACL, putting her out of two seasons and setting her behind the rest of her junior teammates, which also gave advantages to younger athletes.
The volleyball player hopes to come back stronger than last time after facing the biggest challenge on the team.
“The first time I tore my ACL, it was a freak accident. But since I tore it the first time, I had a higher chance to tear it again and I did,” says the athlete.
As she has faced many more challenges than others, her hardest one was not being able to put work into a sport she is passionate about. The student athlete was put out of the school’s off season in March through July. This was a big deal this year since the school hired a new varsity head coach.
The student wanted one thing and that was to be able to strive in the off season.
¨Not being able to put in the work I need for my sport,” says Kavouras.
Kavouras faced so many struggles since losing her ability to practice after becoming injured. She ultimately overcame her challenges and became a varsity setter, outside and a right side hitter.
