MONROE - When the gun goes off to start the 200-yard medley relay at the WIAA Division 2 state meet Friday, Monroe senior Grace Keith will be one year removed from the worst time in her life when she had to have surgery to repair a left dislocated kneecap.
Keith had battled misplaced knees throughout her high school career. She suffered a dislocated kneecap as a freshman that robbed her of her first swim season. When the injury popped up again last year, it was time to have a bone realignment surgery that kept her dream of qualifying for state as a senior alive.
Fast forward a year, and Keith has made a full recovery and is swimming on the Monroe-New Glarus team's 200 medley relay in her first trip to state.
"It means everything coming from where I was at this time last year," Keith said. "I was going into surgery with no chance of anything. I couldn't walk for three months. The recovery makes it even sweeter."
Keith underwent a tibial tubercle osteotomy surgery, which is a bone realignment procedure. The surgeon shaves off the top part of the tibial tubercle and the patellar tendon and reattaches it to the tibia. The bone is realigned to allow for proper movement when the knee bends.
"It was a brutal recovery," she said.
Keith devoted her time to gaining mobility in her knee after surgery. She spent hours completing knee bending and flexibility exercises.
"I worked hard on trying to get my legs even," she said. "My left leg was a little
longer. I worked in the pool on my mobility when I couldn't walk."
In the first heat of the Division 2 Stoughton sectional, the Cheesemakers' medley relay team of Mekenzie Hammer, Maddie Hammer, Keith and Cammi Ganshert finished seventh and quailed for state as one of the 12 fastest times in addition to the sectional champions.
"I think we mesh really well," she said. "We all know what we are capable of. We knew going into the sectional we were on the cusp of making it to state. We had to give it everything we had to have a chance and I think we did that."
No one is more excited that Keith will get her chance at state than Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser.
"It's such a blessing that Grace is back with us," Moser said. "They all saw what Grace had to go through last year. All four girls in that relay work really hard and they are a competitive streak. They all wanted that relay to make it for Grace."
Moser admires the way Keith has remained a student of the sport despite her adversity.
"She has that critical eye looking at everything she does and finds ways to break down her swims and get better," Moser said.
Despite being one year removed from surgery, Keith is still taking precautions to ensure the kneecap stays aligned.
"I'm still going to physical therapy every week," she said.
Keith plans to let the chips fall where they may at state. She's savoring the moment.
"I think as long as we stay positive and think of ourselves we know what we are capable of," she said. "We just have to do our best and see what happens."
Keith had battled misplaced knees throughout her high school career. She suffered a dislocated kneecap as a freshman that robbed her of her first swim season. When the injury popped up again last year, it was time to have a bone realignment surgery that kept her dream of qualifying for state as a senior alive.
Fast forward a year, and Keith has made a full recovery and is swimming on the Monroe-New Glarus team's 200 medley relay in her first trip to state.
"It means everything coming from where I was at this time last year," Keith said. "I was going into surgery with no chance of anything. I couldn't walk for three months. The recovery makes it even sweeter."
Keith underwent a tibial tubercle osteotomy surgery, which is a bone realignment procedure. The surgeon shaves off the top part of the tibial tubercle and the patellar tendon and reattaches it to the tibia. The bone is realigned to allow for proper movement when the knee bends.
"It was a brutal recovery," she said.
Keith devoted her time to gaining mobility in her knee after surgery. She spent hours completing knee bending and flexibility exercises.
"I worked hard on trying to get my legs even," she said. "My left leg was a little
longer. I worked in the pool on my mobility when I couldn't walk."
In the first heat of the Division 2 Stoughton sectional, the Cheesemakers' medley relay team of Mekenzie Hammer, Maddie Hammer, Keith and Cammi Ganshert finished seventh and quailed for state as one of the 12 fastest times in addition to the sectional champions.
"I think we mesh really well," she said. "We all know what we are capable of. We knew going into the sectional we were on the cusp of making it to state. We had to give it everything we had to have a chance and I think we did that."
No one is more excited that Keith will get her chance at state than Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser.
"It's such a blessing that Grace is back with us," Moser said. "They all saw what Grace had to go through last year. All four girls in that relay work really hard and they are a competitive streak. They all wanted that relay to make it for Grace."
Moser admires the way Keith has remained a student of the sport despite her adversity.
"She has that critical eye looking at everything she does and finds ways to break down her swims and get better," Moser said.
Despite being one year removed from surgery, Keith is still taking precautions to ensure the kneecap stays aligned.
"I'm still going to physical therapy every week," she said.
Keith plans to let the chips fall where they may at state. She's savoring the moment.
"I think as long as we stay positive and think of ourselves we know what we are capable of," she said. "We just have to do our best and see what happens."
