She was the freshman county discus champion, a two-time discus regional qualifier, a one-time state qualifier and a USA Track & Field Junior Olympics national qualifier for shot put.

For senior Sophia Nguyen, this track season was on pace to be her “star season,” but one false step resulted in a crucial injury before the season even began.

“Every single thought was going through my head,” Nguyen said. “It was the scariest moment of my life.”

Following a critical injury during Nguyen’s basketball season, she will not be able to throw her senior season of track, but with the support system around her, her collegiate future is bright. 

During a basketball practice scrimmage, Nguyen took one step and knew something was wrong. 

“I couldn’t feel anything below my calf, and (it) felt like I got shot … ,” Nguyen said. “Everything just felt so heavy.”

After being carried off and rushed into the trainer’s office, the emotions were high, and a plethora of thoughts flooded Nguyen. She didn’t know what was going to happen.

Trainers Felicia Cooper and Raya Booth were beside Nguyen through the painful experience. Nguyen says their support and help meant everything to her. 

“Although Felicia and I are technically Sophia’s athletic trainers, it’s more than that,” Booth said. “We see our student athletes at Southport as our children.”

The next day, Nguyen got an MRI scan and X-rays to determine the seriousness of the injury. Unfortunately, she quickly found out that the possibility of having a track season was out of the picture.

Nguyen had ruptured her Achilles tendon, resulting in her missing her last sectional basketball games and the entirety of her senior track season. 

Through the hard news, Booth and Cooper were right there with Nguyen.

“They both came to my first appointment and were basically my moms,” Nguyen said. “Raya came to my surgery early in the morning, and her support meant everything … They are trying everything to get me back to normal in the quickest ways possible.”

Once being compelled to use crutches and a scooter, all of Nguyen’s coaches were right at her side offering support and guidance. But most importantly, Brandon Murer, the track and field coach at DePaul University, never lost sight of Nguyen.

“(He said) ‘I still really want you here at DePaul,’” Nguyen said. “He never lost hope in me, and that was my favorite part of it all.” 

Come fall, Nguyen will attend DePaul and will throw for the Blue Demons. Even through a prominent injury, the recruitment process for Nguyen didn’t change, and Murer still wanted her to throw at the next level. 

Through the unknown, Nguyen has never lost her passion for track. Along with Murer, her SHS coach Joshua Bridwell and travel coach Wille Little have been giving her the support she’s needed. 

Nguyen says both coaches responded quickly back to her as soon as they heard the news.

“(Bridwell) was just texting me and calling me the entire time I was on bed rest, just talking me through everything,” Nguyen said. “ My travel coach was also really supportive … He would tell me if I needed anything, that he would be there in an instant.”

Through the encouragement and empathy of Nguyen’s coaches, she has slowly made progress, and the future for Nguyen’s collegiate career is certain.

“It’s tough, but she works harder than every other person on this team,” Bridwell said. “She’s committed to it, she has a love for the sport.” 

Now out of the boot, Nguyen will start up physical activity again and continue to work through physical therapy. If all works out, the hope for Nguyen is to be back in the sector next spring.

“I’m glad that I have a supportive system all around me at Southport and DePaul, and I’m excited to see what I can do and come back from,” Nguyen said.