Beyond the miracle touchdown pass or last-second prayer goal, sports injuries also seem to be a staple in high school sports. This season, Idaho Falls High School athletes have suffered broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, and a whole host of sprains, contusions and abrasions and few sports have passed unscathed so far this year.
 According to those student athletes, the new goal - instead of training to dominate the field or court - is to stay positive and train to just get back in the game.
 In August, Alex Hix, senior, took a hit to his leg which ended up in a torn MCL. However, Hix remained upbeat and continued to play a supporting role on his team. ”I don’t feel less important to my team because you can keep the sidelines in the game,” Hix said. 
 Junior Alex Baker found himself sidelined in football due to a broken collarbone and had a different take, “It sucked,” he said.
 Injuries require a major adjustment for both the individual and the team. Even in a non-contact sport, athletes can find themselves on the wrong end of an injury. Cross-country runner Kalee Beck, senior, found herself in a “boot” courtesy of torn tendons. “I want to be there with them while they race but I can’t because of my leg,” she said.  She still supports the team, attending every meet and cheering from the sidelines.
 While injuries present serious problems, the lesson here is that injured students can still help their teams and should be encouraged to do so.
 Athletes know life often throws curves and being able to get back up and find ways to contribute is something innate in Tiger athletes. Alexis Walker, junior, suffered a broken fibula and spent the rest of the volleyball season in a cast. “It’s hard to feel important when you can’t play,” she said. “But my team includes me in every activity.”