For soccer player Tristan Schulz, everything changed in a split second during practice.
“I was dribbling a ball and stepped wrong and dislocated my kneecap,” Schulz said. “I fell and was on the ground for a little while. Thankfully, our trainer, Destiny, rushed over to see what happened.”
What started as a typical practice quickly became the start of a long and hard journey.
“The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘How long am I going to be out for?’” Schulz said. “I didn’t really know what happened because I’ve never had something this bad happen. I was hoping to be back in a few days or weeks, but it turned out to be much longer.”
Most athletes hope to have a quick recovery, but the severity of the injury was clear.
“It happened in late August, and I wasn’t able to come back,” Schulz said. “I did end up playing a few minutes of the last game, but I was out the whole season.”
Watching teammates play while sidelined proved to be one of the hardest challenges while being hurt.
“The hardest part was sitting out during practice and watching games from the sideline knowing I can’t do anything to help my team,” Schulz said.
Despite the setback, support from teammates and coaches was always constant.
“They were always there providing support and being positive no matter the situation,” Schulz said. “My coaches were also amazing — they always found ways to get me involved with the team.”
The encouragement of the crowd during the final game left a great lasting impression.
“The time I felt most supported was when I checked into the last game for the first time of the season,” Schulz said. “All the people in the stands were cheering loudly, and it made me very happy.”
The experience provided a feeling of what it truly means to be a teammate.
“I learned that no matter what life throws at you, you have to find the positives and find the people who are there to support you,” Schulz said. “Even when it feels like everything’s going wrong, there’s always a reason to keep going.”

Aidan Rakowski:
Senior football player Aidan Rakowski’s season began with a good look, but ended in devastation after going down during a tackling drill.
“I was doing a tackling drill when I landed on my shoulder wrong,” Rakowski said. “I felt instant sharp pain run throughout my body, and I knew right away I did something. I went in for an X-ray and found out I had a grade 1 separation of my AC joint. I was able to come back in a span of four weeks, but my second game back, I completely messed it up again, making it a grade 3 separation — and that made me out for my senior season.”
The moment the injury’s seriousness was recognized was unsettling to Rakowski, knowing his season might be over.
“I could hardly even move it,” Rakowski said. “I tried to keep playing with it, but I just couldn’t. What scared me the most was when the trainers said I might have broken my collarbone.”
Rakowski struggled watching the team play while sidelined because he felt helpless.

“The hardest part is not being able to do anything about it,” Rakowski said. “Having to sit there watching your team play, thinking in your head that you should be out there with them. Especially the senior year of high school.”
The injury also carried weight, knowing that it affected his baseball-throwing arm.
“It affected me pretty negatively knowing I would not be able to get back out on that football field with my friends,” Rakowski said. “And also the fact that it is my throwing arm for baseball.”
Teammates, trainers, and coaches provided good continuous support.
“They played a big role in constantly asking me if I was okay, checking up on me, and texting me to get better,” Rakowski said. “They were always there for me throughout my whole recovery.”
Even from the sidelines, a new appreciation for the sport emerged. While Rakowski was out he realized how lucky he is to play with his friends, because one never knows when they might not be able to play again.
“Seeing the game from the sideline really changes you,” Rakowski said. “It makes you want to be out there performing just like your teammates.”
Through the troubles, Rakowski was able to gain a new perspective.
“Sometimes things don’t always go your way, and that’s just what life is,” Rakowski said. “Every setback is a setup for growth — learn, adapt, and keep going.”

Brady Vogel:
During a game against West Fargo Sheyenne, a typical play quickly became a big problem, costing the season.
“I was playing against West Fargo and tackled someone, and then he landed on my hand the wrong way,” Vogel said. “My thumb bent the wrong way.”
At that point, he knew something was wrong. Despite the injury, he remained in the game.
“I’ve got to tape it up so I can play the rest of the game,” Vogel said. “I knew it was going to be my last game for a while.”
The injury ultimately required surgery and lots of recovery time.
“The hardest part was living with the fact that I might never play the sport I love with my friends ever again,” Vogel said.
Not playing is not just about missing a game – it’s about missing the moments that make the sport special to the players. Support from teammates and coaches was crucial throughout his recovery.
“Not doing anything dumb so that I could get back on the field was what kept me going,” Vogel said. “My teammates and coaches were great — they always asked me when I could come back and told me to get better soon.”
The experience also changed his perspective on the sport and his life.
“You never know when it’s your last game on the field with your friends you’ve played with your whole life,” Vogel said. “So play every game like it’s your last.”
It strengthened the importance of living in the moment.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” Vogel said. One play can change everything, so make every second count.

Mason Mosset:
Unlike most athletes, Mason Mosset’s injury occurred off the field.
“I crumpled my car against a tree,” Mosset states. “I got hit in the back of the head with my subwoofers and ended up with two skull fractures and a concussion.”
The immediate aftermath was frightening.
“The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘Why can’t I move my arm — and did I blow my eardrum?’” Mosset said.
Recovery was long and tedious.
“From the concussion, about two weeks, and the fractures took seven months,” Mosset said. “Not being able to play football and seeing my friends succeed on the field without me was really hard.”
The possible seriousness or what was believed to be the worst outcome possible, was confirmed by his doctor.
“The neurologist said it was one of the worst fractures he’s ever seen,” Mosset said.
He is lucky to be alive and walking the halls of Bismarck High School Even while sidelined, Mosset remained connected to his team.
“My teammates were very supportive, as well as my coaches, in my decision not to play this year,” Mosset said. “Now I’m All-State Waterboy.”
The experience shaped his outlook on life and the personal limits he has.
“This injury put my mental health in the forefront of my mind when I was deciding whether or not I should play football,” Mosset said. “I learned that I’m capable of overcoming adversity.”
His advice for others facing setbacks reflects on his own perspective.
“Setbacks help you see who you can become and strengthen who you are,” Mosset said.
All four athletes faced significant hardships, but arrived at the same conclusion — strength is not purely physical. It is measured by the response when scenarios fall apart and one loses control.
Whether through Tristan’s patience, Aidan’s grit, Brady’s determination, or Mason’s mental toughness, each of them found a personal path to recovery. They all discovered that the sport oversteps the game itself, and it is about how one responds when participation is not a choice.
As Tristan Schulz said, “There’s always a reason for a setback — you’ll come back stronger than before.”