Heights graduate Reagan Sturgill back in action after two-year hiatus

Cuyahoga Heights graduate Reagan Sturgill is living out her childhood dreams playing Division I college soccer at Appalachian State.

However, the road to get there had an unexpected delay.

Sturgill tore her ACL in 2021, her senior year at Cuyahoga Heights, forcing her to miss not only the rest of that season but also her freshman season for the Mountaineers in 2022.

Now, Sturgill is back on the field, spending the summer with the Cleveland Ambassadors of the Women’s Premier Soccer League. She took on all of the adversity thrown her way and feels she has come out the other side better than ever.

“It is the best feeling ever,” Sturgill said of returning from her injury. “I feel like I’m stronger than before I tore it, which is a cool feeling. But it was a very, very long process, so it was rewarding to finally get to play.”

Sturgill gave a lens into what her rehab process entailed. She explained the trials and tribulations she faced throughout her journey back and how they tested her mentally.

“It was the most exhausting and repetitive process,” Sturgill said. “It was very discouraging at times because the little things that you used to be able to do just become impossible.”

The path back after her injury was undoubtedly a very difficult one for Sturgill. In fact, it pushed her desire to continue playing to its brink.

“There were times where it would’ve been so much easier to just not play anymore and go somewhere for just academics,” Sturgill said. “The timing of it being my senior season and signing a few days after surgery, I questioned if I wanted to go through that process just to not get to play my freshman year.”

Sturgill knew the journey ahead of her was a long one. However, she attacked her rehab with the same mindset she has when lacing up for a game.

“I’m a very competitive person, so I don’t like losing,” Sturgill said. “This was a big loss for me, so I wanted to prove to everyone how much work I put in and that I wasn’t just given this opportunity. Everyone had to see the comeback.”

The process tested Sturgill both physically and mentally, and many others may have given up in her situation. However, she kept a positive mindset and found it within herself to push forward.

“There were little milestones that I would get,” Sturgill said. “I could finally get that one leg raise or learn how to jog again or get my hops in. It was a really cool thing.”

Sturgill claimed that being around her team helped drive her to return to the field. The time she spent working back gave her a deeper adoration for the work that goes on behind closed doors.

“Now, I just appreciate the little things,” Sturgill said. “I would go to practice and see everyone playing and it really made me appreciate the time we have on the field. I would’ve killed to just be at those conditioning practices, even though they suck.”

Despite not being able to be on the field fully, Sturgill refused to allow her time away to be unproductive. She utilized every rep she could in each stage of her rehab process.

“I would incorporate myself in any way I could at practice,” Sturgill said. “Whether I could just get touches or I could do non-contact, I would just take advantage of every one of those points.”

Sturgill also explained that the time on the sideline gave her time to take mental reps and gain a deeper understanding of her sport. While some athletes develop “rust” while out for extended periods, she believes this improved her mental aspect.

“I was going to all the games and seeing everything from the sideline point of view,” Sturgill said. “You can see things that you definitely couldn’t before on the field, and I feel like I’m a smarter player because of it.”

Sturgill’s hard work during the rehab process was apparent, as she was out of her knee brace about a month and a half ahead of schedule. Still, she had to deal with the battle of learning to trust her knee again.

“At first, I didn’t want anyone near me,” Sturgill said. “And mine was non-contact, so getting back into a full sprint and making a hard cut again was a very hard adjustment. It really just took getting hit or going into a hard tackle for the first time to get over that hurdle.”

This coming fall will be Sturgill’s first full season back from the injury. She has already proven the caliber of her character through this process, but she still feels driven to show what she is capable of on the field.

“One of my biggest goals is to get some good minutes and eventually move into a starting role,” Sturgill said. “Obviously I’d love to get some goals, but I want my first full season back to be something that my parents, my teammates, and I can be proud of. I want them to want me on the field because they know I can benefit the team.”