By Tiffany Weimer, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Freshman year: a trip to the elite eight. Sophomore year: an uncharacteristic loss in the round of 32. Junior year: a trip to the College Cup. Satisfying? Likely not if one has the heart of a competitor, the heart of a Penn State women??s soccer player.
A senior year effort has been the last opportunity for many who have gone through a program that despite all of its successes in the first 12 years has not led to any national championship rings?? yet.
For senior defender, Jean Rettig, will that last chance ever happen? After breaking her nose during the third game of the season, Rettig suffered a grade two concussion and has yet to step on the field again this year.
??It??s obviously been frustrating not being able to play, said Rettig. ??But I am trying to stay positive as much as possible.??
Only having played in three games before the injury had occurred, Rettig is eligible to use a medical redshirt if she chooses that path. This would mean she can have another whole season as a Nittany Lion.
??I am still not sure yet. I have to wait to be cleared by the doctors,?? said Rettig.
In the meantime, Rettig has had to take test after test in order to determine whether or not her brain is functioning properly. She has taken neuropsychological tests three times. These last an hour and a half and measure things like memory and speed of recognition.
??It??s funny because Jean is always the one on top of things and now she forgets sometimes,?? said senior midfielder Holly Lincoln. ??A few weeks ago, after we played Michigan and Michigan State we went to see the guy??s team play and I commented on how nice the field looked. Jean said it was because no one had been using it all weekend, even though we had played on it a few days earlier.??
Rettig may be experiencing some effects from the concussion, but they are just rare instances that her teammates can have a good laugh about and none of that has prevented her from being involved with the team as much as she possibly can.
??I usually try to lead by example,?? said Rettig. ??But since this injury, I have learned to become a more vocal leader, encouraging and motivating my teammates as much as possible.??
She has been at every practice and game since it first occurred, still as emotionally involved with the team as she was before, just not able to put on that jersey and cross the line.
??She's not always feeling that great and yet somehow she comes out to practice every day and does as much as she can and encourages everyone,?? said junior forward Aubrey Aden-Buie. ??It really makes a difference to know that she is behind us and to see how unselfish and giving she is even still. She would do anything for her teammates and that really shows a lot about her character.??
Though Rettig??s future on the field is uncertain, there is no doubt where her heart has been amidst a difficult time for her. ??I am so anxious to play and the thought of finishing this season is exciting because I think the team is hitting stride at the right time and I still want to be a part of that.??