Wilmot senior stars in volleyball, softball
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
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It was either put away the softball gear for good, or undergo right shoulder surgery for Wilmot Union High School senior Sawyer Wightman.
The was the difficult question presented to Wightman, a National Letter of Intent commit to Ferris State University, after her volleyball season when she accrued a school record 1,012 digs.
Wightman, who endured chronic shoulder pain for nearly a decade while playing sports, reached the tipping point when she experienced limited arm movement at the tail end of the volleyball season. She was told she would have to see a doctor for her shoulder pain, since she may have shoulder weakness that left her in constant pain.
With shoulder pain so common among those who play sports, it’s hard to know what’s causing it every time. Though most of the time, it can get better with stretching exercises and therapies given by physical therapists similar to the ones available at Barkman and Smith Physical Therapy, knowing the root cause tends to be important. A lot of the time, shoulder pain is caused by spinal issues. Although these will require recovery time, spinal issues can easily be resolved with surgery. Wightman, with such prestige in sport, would be unlikely to want to undergo surgery due to missing sport, but with professional surgeons like Dr. Mork, recovery times are minimalized.
“I have always had arm pain, because I have played softball and volleyball since the third grade,” she said. “It was to the point where I really couldn’t raise my arm anymore. So that is why towards the end of volleyball season, I couldn’t serve anymore.”
Kevin Raap, the Lady Panthers volleyball coach, said the pain was enough for him to make a decision in the WIAA Division 1 regional match against Janesville Craig.
“A ball was passed way off the court, Sawyer chased the ball and in the process of playing the ball back for her teammates, she hit the floor pretty hard, extending her outward….causing more pain to the shoulder,” Raap said. “I saw the expression on her face and the way she moved back to the court.”
Raap sent a teammate to check on her, which led the decision to sit her for the rest of the game, but was difficult citing Wightman’s competitive nature.
“Sawyer tried to tell me she was okay,” Raap said. “I didn’t fall for it….I have been working with Sawyer for four years now.”
“One thing I have learned about her is that she never wants to sit a point out, or a practice,” he added.
Wightman said it was the best for her, noting her preferred sport of softball, where she prides herself as the Lady Panthers’ middle infielder.
The senior second baseman’s defense, in which she only committed 13 errors in 243 total chances in three years, has impressed her softball coach Pat Dopke.
“As our starting second baseman for three years, Sawyer grew defensively as she honed her skills and mechanics at that position,” Dopke said.
The senior second baseman also contributed in the batters box, hitting .373 with a .441 on base percentage her freshman year, collecting two doubles and 13 RBIs through 23 games.
Her hitting stayed consistent her sophomore, batting .323 with five doubles and 12 RBIs in 21 games.
She was named Honorable Mention All-SLC in 2014.
However, she noted her shoulder regressed following her sophomore season, citing an uptick of playing time between the Lady Panthers and her hometown BATS softball academy.
“It kept getting worse, with my travel schedule got more intense, so I was throwing more often and throwing harder, and I think that made it worse,” Wightman said.
In her Wilmot season, her average dropped to .250, but still maintained the same plate discipline, jumping from a .338 OBP to .344 OBP her junior year.
The senior, who underwent surgery in January, said her condition is hereditary and knew it would plague her, noting that her father and sister had a similar issue.
Over the past decade, she has mostly spent her time in physical therapy recovery, but when an MRI revealed a tear after volleyball season, she knew it was time.
“They said either I have to stop playing sports because the tear is so bad, or have surgery,” Wightman said.
With her recovery time expected to last six months, her senior season is in limbo, but hopes to return to the diamond at end of the season.
“I am not really like technically cleared to play this spring, the surgeon said it was a lot worse than expected,” she said. “My recovery is going to be rough and could be a lot longer, and I am going to have to take things really slow.”
Despite being sidelined, she plans to spend time as a vocal leader of the squad in the dugout, which is also an asset the Lady Panthers.
Dopke noted her patience and leadership as skills that can still be used.
“Sawyer is a natural leader. She has no problem taking charge in a situation,” Dopke said. “She has shown that she will make sacrifices for the good of the team.”
She remains upbeat about the summer, noting her return to BATS Academy and strong support system, which include her parents, Craig and Tina.
“My parents have always pushed me, and got me into sports,” she said. “And has always pushed me to be the best I can be.”
Noting her competitive streak, Raap believes in Wightman, stating she possesses the determination to bounce back.
“With her desire to always be playing, I believe she will rehab fully.” Raap said. “And unless I am mistaken, she would have a personal goal of setting the record for the shortest amount of time missed after surgery!”
The senior started physical therapy two weeks ago.
Wightman, who is No. 7 in her senior class academically, plans to pursue pediatric oncology at Ferris State.
Dopke believes Wightman stands to improve the most at the plate once she is fully recovered.