RIVER FOREST, Ill. – From being one of the top players on her high school team to struggling to walk, Kayla McCloud has been through a lot to be part of the Concordia University Chicago Women's Basketball team. Her story is one of perseverance, but as she says in our interview, she wouldn't be where she is without her mom, friends and Coach Lauren Rosengarden. We had a chance to sit down and talk with Kayla to get the full story on how she became part of the CUC Women's Basketball team.
 
CJ: What do sports mean to you?
 
Kayla: Sports have developed me as a person overall. I started playing sports when I learned how to walk so that is all that I have ever known growing up. It helped me form my own values and my own sense of self based on how I learned things through sports. It means everything to me because there were times that I didn't have sports, and it became clear I didn't know how to function without them. It's been the most important thing to me.
 
CJ: You had a very different path to college basketball than the average athlete. Tell us about your story.
 
Kayla: I got taken out on a layup and got undercut. I came down straight on my elbow and the other girl fell on top of me. From that moment I tore a ligament in my elbow and broke my back. I actually finished the game and didn't realize. My hand immediately went numb because it was my ulnar nerve that I tore. I was in a lot of pain but the adrenaline kicked in so I was able to finish the game.
 
CJ: How did you finish that game?!
 
Kayla: I shot my free throws left handed after the injury. My back and leg hurt, which bothered me but I was so in the moment that the only thing that mattered was that game.
 
CJ: So what happened after the game?
 
Kayla: I got home and realized that something was clearly wrong. I went to the hospital the next day. I didn't realize that my back was broken till like two weeks later because I was so focused on the pain in my hand and elbow. I underwent a lot of different tests and they finally figured out that I had broken my back which explained all of my other pain. So sports were taken away there, and I underwent multiple surgeries for my elbow and back. It started snowballing from there, it started with my elbow and then surgeries for my back. I was put into a brace, and even had surgery to realign my spine at one point. It got to the point where I was struggling to walk. At that point my doctor told me that I could no longer play sports
 
CJ: That had to be devastating for you.
 
Kayla: From that moment on it really hit me that everything that I worked for was gone. So from there I didn't want anything to do with sports. I didn't want to watch it, hear about it, I didn't want to be there. I took all of the sports decorations, trophies, jerseys, awards down in my room and wanted nothing to do with it. Through my second half of high school I had no contact with sports. Both of my sisters still played sports and I couldn't even go to their games because it hurt me so much.
 
CJ: How did you finally get back involved with basketball here at Concordia?
 
Kayla: As I got to college things started to clear up medically and I was good to go. But from the point that I was told I couldn't play sports again I had just given it up. Some of my friends started to push me to go to the games. I remember the first game I came to I left crying because I wanted to be playing so bad. My friends continued to encourage me and push me to get back in the gym and shoot around. They continued to push me and convinced me to play intramural basketball. It was a terrifying experience to start playing again, it got to the point where I couldn't tell my mom because I knew how afraid she was for me. She had openly said that she wouldn't support me to play again. It's the only thing that I have hidden from my mom because she's like my best friend who I can tell anything and everything. As I was playing intramurals my friends continued to push me to have conversations about playing on the collegiate team. I first reached out to Janet at first who set up a meeting between me, her and Coach Lauren. I filled them in on my situation and story and that everything was all good and that I was fine and they said I could join the team.
 
CJ: That had to be a great feeling.
 
Kayla: From that moment when I got that glimmer of hope that I could play again my whole world changed. I got something back that didn't have for so long. As soon as I joined the team I drove home because my parents had no idea that I had even picked up a basketball again. We were all crying when I told them. One thing that stuck out to me is when I told them that the opportunity to play basketball today is something that I will never forget no matter how old I am. It didn't matter to me if I played for a day, year or the next three years. I had a part of me back again. I got basketball back which was the biggest moment in my life thus far. I became a different person when I got it back. I became a different player with a completely different appreciation of the game, knowing any time could be my last. This game means everything to me and people don't always get to play it.
 
CJ: Who are some people that influence you?
 
Kayla: I would say my mom pushed me growing up, whether it was coaching me or pushing me in the gym late at night. After the injury my friends that pushed me helped me to get back to basketball. Then Coach Lauren has been an amazing influence on me. When I get down she picks me up and reminds me that I should be proud of where I have come from, but she doesn't let the injury be an excuse either.
 
CJ: You are always cheering and going crazy on the bench. Explain that.

Kayla: I was not like the high energy one before the injury. Because of this change in mindset I am more appreciative of the game than ever before. All I can ask for is that everyone is working and playing with heart. When that's being given on the court that is all that I could ask for. I just want to be thankful for every moment with basketball whether I am on the court or not. I am just thankful to be part of something that is bigger than myself. I would love to be on the court of course, but I am going to do everything that I can for this team no matter where I am at. I am going to give the team my best all the time. People feed off of energy so if I can be the one to bring the high energy and great attitude then people are going to feed off that.
 
CJ: What advice would you give to someone?
 
Kayla: Be appreciative of the opportunity that you have. You never want to go into something giving 50 percent. Think of both aspects, you never want to be a selfish person, always think of what you are of a part of and when you are part of a team it is bigger than you.