Syracuse, N.Y. -- In just a handful of varsity games, Baldwinsville field hockey player Julia Schultz has experienced the full spectrum of emotions that accompany her sport.
Schultz came up to the varsity two seasons ago at the end of her eighth-grade year. She scored six goals, including two in the Section III title game to help give the Bees a win over RFA.
So how hard could this varsity thing be? Soul-crushing, as it turns out.
During preseason last fall, she suffered a knee injury that cost her all of the 2020 season. But the time off was apparently put to good use.
The sophomore has made a fierce return to the field for Baldwinsville this season, scoring nine goals for 6-0 Baldwinsville. Her early efforts have earned her recognition as the SOS Spotlight Athlete of the Week.
“Nowadays, every time I step out on the field I’m just so grateful that I can run again because I went from sitting in a chair from surgery to being able to run on a field,” Schultz said. “It was really just a special moment because I remember just sitting on the sidelines, watching my teammates play. And it really upset me because I just really wanted to go out there. I was really anxious to play. But I had to be patient and wait and my time has come and I’m ready to see what comes this year.”
As easy as she can make it look now, Schultz said she wasn’t always sure her comeback would have a payoff like this.
“I actually had a lot of doubts during that time. The first four months were the slowest because you can’t really do much during that time,” she said. “But during those months I was like, ‘Am I ever going to be the person I was before? Is my leg going to cooperate the way I want it to? Is it going to fail me again? Am I going to tear it again or is it going to stay strong and healthy?’ So there were a lot of doubts during the recovering process. But thankfully I pushed through and kept positive.”
Now, with her knee and team back apparently back at full strength, Schultz can foresee a full field hockey season that builds upon the promise of her eighth-grade debut.
Or perhaps takes it even further.
“I think a personal goal for me right now is to just keep my knee healthy. But as a team goal I believe that since our team’s working so well together right now I feel that our team is very strong,” she said. “Everyone has a specific skill, and when you put all those skills together it’s like we just become an unstoppable team. And I believe with those skills, we can make a run at states.”
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