Even when Chesterton forward Adey Avey’s legs started to go numb last season, she refused to leave the field.
Her pain always started in her back and sometimes left her without feeling in her legs.
“I just didn’t want to let the team down,” Avey said. “I felt like, if I were to sit out for a practice or miss a game because I was injured, I’d be letting them down. I wanted to show them that I was here and that I wanted to play my part.”
Despite the discomfort, Avey still scored a career-high 17 goals as a junior, leading the Trojans (7-10) for the third straight season and increasing her total to 47, and she was an all-state third-team pick. But Chesterton coach Ben Forgey said her physical struggles were obvious.
“She didn’t have the same burst, that same freedom of movement,” Forgey said. “She was in the training room all season. She wanted to tough through everything, but it wasn’t the same Adey that we’ve come to expect.”
Avey said she couldn’t recall a specific incident that triggered the pain. She first noticed it at some point during summer 2024, and it worsened as the season progressed.
“I went to physical therapy, and I went to see a few other people to see what it was,” she said. “They thought it was a joint issue, so I just played my whole season with it. But I was pushing through every play. Each foul was just awful.”
Chesterton’s season ended with a 2-1 loss to Valparaiso in the first round of the Class 3A Portage Sectional on Oct. 8, and a few weeks later, an MRI revealed the source of Avey’s pain. She had suffered a fracture of her fifth lumbar vertebra. She was out of action for four months while she wore a back brace.
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Avey said she’d juggle a ball while she was sitting down or watch soccer with her family to boost her spirits. But her view from the sidelines during the travel season was not one she enjoyed.
“Even though I couldn’t play, I still went to every single one of my club practices, and the hardest part for me was seeing everyone else on my team getting to do what I loved to do the most,” she said.
Avey’s brace came off in early February, and she returned to the field soon after. She said it took her about a month to shake off the rust.
Healthy again, Avey begins her final high school season understanding the importance of taking care of her body.
“I prioritize my health more now,” she said. “I’m eating better. I’m taking things like recovery and stretching seriously.”
Teammates like senior midfielder Claire Vrahoretis, one of her closest friends, said Avey has been noticeably more upbeat during the preseason.
“You can tell that her head is a lot clearer now, that she’s not being bothered as much by her injuries,” Vrahoretis said. “It’s a lot easier for her to just play the way that she plays.”
When Avey is healthy, she plays with a combination of speed, strength and skill that sometimes leaves Forgey in disbelief on the sidelines.
“She’s just so deceptive,” Forgey said. “These defenders think they’re going to take the ball from her, but she pairs her elite dribbling ability with strength and pace. Sometimes when I’m watching some of our games back, I’ll see myself on camera with my hands on my head because she’s doing things not all kids can do.”
More moments like those could be coming this season, when Avey hopes to be the engine that drives Chesterton deep into the playoffs.
“It’s my last ride, so I’m looking forward to going as far as I can with this group,” she said.
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.