It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I was playing in my first scrimmage since COVID-19 had shut everything down, and I was thrilled to be back on the court.
I got a rebound, and as I went to take a step, I felt like someone had jumped on the back of my leg.
It hurt so bad, I was ready to turn around and get into someone's face.
But when I looked back, nobody was behind me.
That’s when I started to realize I’d done something to myself.
I walked off the court, and a friend asked me if I’d twisted my ankle.
At this point, I still hadn’t processed what had happened, and luckily, there was a trainer there.
She looked at me, did a few tests, and then said the words that changed my life:
“You need to go to the hospital. I believe you tore your Achilles.”
I just started crying.
All I knew about an Achilles injury was when Kobe Bryant had called it the “kiss of death”.
I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I had a long road ahead of me.
And I was right.
I’ve Always Been a Hooper
I’ve loved basketball for as long as I can remember.
It’s not the only sport I played growing up, but it’s always been my favorite.
One of my core memories was when we were playing a scrimmage, and one of the leaders commented that no one wanted to take a deep shot.
So I got the ball.
Pulled up from what I thought was half-court.
And knocked it down.
In retrospect, I know it probably wasn’t half-court, but it felt so cool at the time.
From that moment on, I was hooked.
Heading to College
My collegiate athletics journey began at Laurentian University.
In my first year, I got so much exposure to the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) game. I got to play a ton and experience different positions.
Unfortunately, in my second year, COVID-19 hit, so we didn’t get to play much.
And at the end of that year, my academic program was cut, forcing me to make a decision: I could continue to play at Laurentian University and give up my academic program, or I would have to face the unknown of trying to transfer and continue my dream of finishing my archaeology degree.
I chose to take the risk of transferring.
Unfortunately, that’s when I tore my Achilles.
I ended up taking a year off from school while I rehabbed.
At the end of rehab, while still working through the injury, I began trying out for teams.
Getting exposure at OUA schools wasn't easy, but I thank God every day that I found my new home at Humber College.
It worked out perfectly for me in that moment, and it was exactly what I needed to recover from everything that had happened to me over the past few years.
I played two years at Humber College while getting a diploma in advertising and marketing.
At the end of those two years, I graduated, and, still wanting to pursue my dream of being an archaeologist, I began looking for another university where I could complete that program.
That brought me to Lakehead University, which is where I am now.
After this winding path, I have now ended up back in a geoarchaeology program where I can finish that and continue to play basketball at the OUA level.
It’s been a very unplanned and bumpy ride for me, but it’s honestly so cool to me that I was able to get back here and have this chance to continue that dream that I started.
I can’t complain, I’m in a good place.
The Power of Poetry
When I’m not on the court, I’m writing.
Poetry has been my outlet since I was eleven, when I scribbled my first piece after a youth game because the feelings were too big to carry around in silence.
That spark never faded, and when my Achilles snapped and the game I loved disappeared overnight, I leaned on words to fill the void.
During rehab, I gathered every poem I’d written over the years, sorted them into a loose manuscript, and—suddenly, twenty‑one with more free time than I’d ever wanted—began shaping it into a book.
I scraped together funds, linked up with a small publisher, and eventually released my first collection online.
Publishing opened doors I’d never imagined: honest conversations about mental health, friendships with fellow writers, and a fresh confidence in who I am beyond the label of “athlete.”
I still read and write poems every week because they keep me grounded.
This journey convinced me that no one has to live inside a single box.
Being a hooper doesn’t disqualify me from being a writer, a scientist, or anything else that lights me up.
Following multiple passions doesn’t dilute effort; it sharpens every craft.
One day the ball will stop bouncing, so I’m building other dreams now for the chapters that will follow.
If something moves you, make space for it.
Wear every hat that fits, chase every interest that calls your name, and never let anyone shrink your ambitions.
Believe in your path, follow it relentlessly, and see where it takes you.
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📷 Sidney Crawford, Humber Athletics, and Lakehead Athletics
