UCSD's hobbled Kostlan will grin, bear it
By: TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | ∞
LA JOLLA ---- Apparently, a torn anterior cruciate ligament isn't enough to prevent UC San Diego's Kacie Kostlan from playing in this week's NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament.
"Maybe if I couldn't move," Kostlan said during therapy while teammates practiced at RIMAC Arena.
Kostlan, a 5-foot-9 starting guard by way of Poway High and Palomar College, suffered a torn ACL in her left knee during a March 10 win over Alaska-Anchorage in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional at RIMAC.
But she was back on the court 48 hours later for the March 12 final wearing a brace and with her knee taped when the Tritons defeated Chico State 80-63. The win gave the school its first Division II West Regional title and a berth in the national quarterfinals.
UCSD (26-4) faces East Regional champion Glenville State (33-2) of West Virginia today at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
A torn ACL long has been considered a season-ending injury in sports, but UCSD assistant trainer Gillian Ojeda said recent advances in sports medicine have led to a better understanding of how muscles support the knee. Doctors and trainers have subsequently devised braces and taping methods that compensate for a torn ligament.
"She's an elite athlete, so the muscles around her knee are very strong to support it," Ojeda said. "She'll be able to do enough to play. She understands the risks and is OK with it."
Before Kostlan was cleared to play, she had to pass tests such as sprinting, cutting and skipping. Her doctor and her parents also had to sign a release. Kostlan is aware that she could further injure the knee, but the damage would be repaired when she ultimately undergoes surgery.
"I'm a senior, this is the Elite Eight, and I don't want to pass it up," said Kostlan, who averaged 4.0 points and 4.0 assists in 30 starts this year. "We have a chance to play three more games, and I'm going to tough it out. I'm either going to be done now or done later."
Kostlan won't be the first UCSD athlete to play with a torn ACL. During UCSD's women's soccer season last fall, senior Megan Dickey, a Torrey Pines High alumnus, finished her season after sustaining the same injury.
"I don't know Megan, but I heard about how she played," Kostlan said. "That was encouraging for me."
In the regional final, Kostlan didn't score in the 10 minutes she played, but she performed well enough to convince all involved that she can help the Tritons in her role of setting up the offense. As a guard playing on the perimeter, Kostlan has less pressure on her knee than a post player would have jumping for rebounds.
"She's shown a lot of toughness and courage," UCSD coach Janell Jones said. "It's her senior year, and she wants to give it go."
Unlike the Division I tournament, Division II brings together the final eight teams at one site. The semifinals are on Thursday, and the championship game on Saturday will be televised by ESPN.
"This is everyone's dream that plays college basketball," Kostlan said. "You want to win a national championship. I want to be a part of it."
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