Hearing fans cheer for your team from the sidelines when you can’t play because of an injury is never a good feeling. It’s what senior Milo Bailey has experienced so far this year. Bailey broke his foot and tore ligaments while wakeboarding this summer. He plays football, soccer, and he wrestles.

“Sitting out is boring. I don’t feel like part of the team,” Bailey said.

There has been an estimated 7.2 million high school sports-related injuries in 2005 and 2006. Sports injuries affect many people in many ways.

Junior Ashley Wiedenhoeft just sprained her ankle at cheerleading practice. Coming out of a stunt her foot landed in a weird way. This injury puts Wiedenhoeft out of the cheerleader’s first competition this year.

“I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to cheer competition and football games,” Wiedenheoft said.

Healing these injuries is on each of these athlete’s minds so they can get back to participating in their sports. Junior Alex Ponte, who cheers and tore a tenden in her shoulder, really wants to get better.

“I go to physical therapy, I wear a brace, and I’ll get surgery eventually,” Ponte said.

Sports-related injuries affect students all over the world. Most don’t see their injury as a good thing and do everything to get better quickly.

“It got my hopes down because it’s my senior year,” Bailey said.