How Injuries Affect Mental Health
By Cameron Kuehler
For many high school athletes, hearing the crowd roar and the grit of competing defines who they are. But for Kaiden Fritz and Jax Bauer, their junior seasons were defined not by how many games they won or how many points they scored; but instead, by injuries that tested their mental toughness.
Fritz suffered an ACL tear with three meniscal tears and a MLC tear. The injury promised Fritz at least 9-10 months of recovery time. “The physical pain was bad, but the mental side hit me harder,” Fritz exclaimed.
Instead of letting the injury keep him down, Fritz put his time into other things. He put more time into weight lifting, and leaning on parents, coaches and teammates for extra support. Fritz explains that the mental portion of the injury was much more challenging than the physical, but he really learned the importance of patience and trusting the process of recovery.
Bauer had a similar experience during the 2024-2025 basketball season. Although his injury was different, his experience was alike. During a varsity game Bauer broke the metacarpal in his hand, requiring surgery and three screws. While it was eight months of physical recovery, it was also eight months of mental recovery.
“I was sad. It is hard watching your teammates play a game you love,” Bauer explained.
The biggest thing that helped Bauer get through his injury was his coaches and teammates keeping him involved. His coaches would have him run some drills during practice, making him feel like sort of an assistant coach.
Both of these athletes' experiences highlight something often overlooked in high school sports. While Fritz and Bauer both had very different physical recoveries, they both explain how mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness.
“Coming back wasn't just about getting healthy physically. It was about finding myself again,” Fritz stated.
