Breathing deeply and focusing on her tumbling pass, Kaylee Nicklos, a member of the UO Acrobatics and Tumbling team, ran from the corner of the mat and began her flip. Her entire team are on their feet cheering, and their excitement reached a high when Kaylee successfully landed her tumbling pass.  As her eyes filled with tears, she was overwhelmed with excitement and pride, knowing how far she has come this past year.  Kaylee is working hard as she recovers from a major ankle injury she suffered last fall, and it is her goal to be named to the travel team for her senior year. Kaylee’s everyday life is very busy as she juggles school, rehabilitation and athletics, with her days starting as early as 7:30am, and going until 8pm when her practices end.

Being a student athlete at the University of Oregon was all Kaylee dreamed about when she was young. Growing up, Kaylee was a gymnast for 10 years in Bellevue, Washington before transferring to the sport of competitive cheerleading. Having a gymnastics background taught Kaylee the proper technique she needed to be a college athlete. Becoming a member of the Acrobatics and Tumbling team was one of Kaylee’s greatest rewards and the scholarship helped with the expense of college. Early in her junior year at Thursday practice, things went terribly wrong for Kaylee. Falling hard on the ground seconds after starting her tumbling pass, Kaylee was unsure of what had happened. She quickly rolled off the mat as the team’s athletic trainer ran over. When looking back, Kaylee said, “All I could think was, why can’t I feel my left leg, as tears were rolling down my face.” After being rushed to the hospital and finding out that her ankle was dislocated and broken in 3 places, she had reconstructive ankle surgery and began rehabilitation. Kaylee knew that her athletic career would never be the same, and when asked if she thought about giving up the sport and transferring, Kaylee responded, “there is nothing that made me more upset than knowing I couldn’t compete with my teammates, and I vowed nothing would stop me from returning as an athlete and to complete my education at UO.”

Kaylee knows she needs to stay positive and focus on regaining her skills if she is to reach her goal of being on the travel team. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, teammate Maddy Hite stated, “Kaylee has inspired us with her determination to overcome her injury and get back on the mat.” Kaylee has fears of re-injury but has learned to keep her focus on what she wants to have happen so she can defy the odds and achieve success!

By: Katie Bachman