What does a star athlete and community service volunteer from Hamilton’s Stephen T. Badin High School do for an encore, when all goals she sets are reached? Battles back from a potential career-ending injury to achieve even greater honors.That’s the remarkable story of Claire Alfers, Captain and outside hitter on Badin’s Volleyball team. Claire was already setting her mark on Cincinnati’s volleyball circuit with All-District honors and club invitations, even as a freshman. In community service circles she was known for giving generously of her time to elementary schools, the Red Cross, even her church. But her future athletic career seemed in jeopardy when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a match one evening, her junior year. "I jumped, hit and landed unbalanced and I crumbled to the floor in the most pain I’ve ever felt." said Alfers. "I remember feeling many emotions at the time: outraged, disappointed, sad and confused. I have so many dreams that include playing volleyball. I prayed that it wasn’t a severe injury."
In fact it was, and soon Claire was facing surgery, but her seemingly bleak future took an optimistic turn when she sought the expertise of Dr. Frank Noyes, world-renown knee surgeon at Cincinnati Sportsmedicine. The successful ACL reconstructive surgery by Dr. Noyes was followed by a strict rehabilitation program at HealthSouth. To prepare for a return to competitive volleyball, Dr. Noyes recommended she train with a revolutionary new approach: to follow the proven knee-injury prevention program called Sportsmetrics, which is typically performed when athletes are injury-free. Claire followed the six-week program at home under the guidance of CSMREF trainers as an extension of her rehabilitation to build a foundation of strength and to perfect her jumping and landing skills. "I was taught many skills that I’ll use the rest of my life to build the right muscles to support my knees," described Alfers. "The jump technique to land securely is invaluable. I owe my present state of good athletic health to so many people. Sportsmetrics put the final touches on a work of art that started on Dr. Noyes’s operating room table."
Claire came back to volleyball with a vengeance, leading her team in "aces" and "digs", and was named to the GGCL all-star team. Having attracted the interest of many colleges, she’s got her sights set on a career in athletic training and physical so she will one day be able to give others the hope that was given her.
On the Net: www.Sportsmetrics.net
