Story by Reese Lusk
When she heard the snap of the ACL tear in her left knee, freshman Jenny Phelan knew it was bad. She’d been there before.
“Thirteen games into last year’s season, my knee just snapped,” Phelan said, referring to the ACL tear in her left knee that ended her freshman campaign.
This was devastating news to the defensive standout, but not something unfamiliar.
“That injury was my second ACL tear of my career — the first happening back in high school.”
Back in 2012, Phelan said she was a star at her high school in Chicago. Entering her junior year, she was looking to continue her successes of her freshman and sophomore seasons. She had already committed to Lipscomb University, and wanted to use her junior year to chase down a championship title. She suffered a right knee ACL tear, ending her season.
But her commitment to Lipscomb didn’t change.
“Lipscomb stood with me, and assured me that I was still wanted for the team,” Phelan said.
Through difficult surgeries and hours of physical therapy, she battled back and eventually captured the Illinois Class 4A State Championship her senior year of high school. After graduation, she was on her way to Lipscomb.
Flashing forward to her second ACL tear last year, Phelan mentioned a friend and mentor who walked with her through that dark time.
“Jewell Dobson was awesome as a support,” Phelan said.
Dobson, a red shirt senior with the program this year, also sustained a season ending injury in 2014.
The two of them grew close during the challenges of medical rehabilitation. By leaning on each other, both players came back on the court for Bisons’ last season.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics