LA JOLLA, Calif. – Focused, determined, nervous, grateful, excited, anxious.
These are all emotions University of California San Diego softball catcher
Bobbi Aguirre underwent her sophomore year of college.
A National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-West Region and an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Second Team honoree and CCAA All-Tournament Team selection right off the bat, Aguirre exploded in her rookie campaign.
A .357 batting average, eight homeruns, and 50 RBI's, it is no question the Chino Hills native made an immediate impact upon her arrival to UC San Diego.
Months following the conclusion of what she considered, "the best freshman year anyone could ask for," Aguirre was informed of the devastating news to any scholar-athlete – the need for Tommy John surgery.
Aguirre had experienced pain in her right throwing elbow for quite some time in high school which only heightened once reaching the collegiate level. Constant trips to the athletic training room for treatment would suffice for the time being but Aguirre knew that the physical therapy was only temporary relief and would not be sustainable for three more years.
"There was something inside of me. I just knew something more was wrong with [my elbow]," Aguirre said.
An ultrasound procedure, magnetic resonance image (MRI) and multiple diagnoses from various doctors and surgeons during Aguirre's sophomore fall ball season would eventually confirm a tear in the ligament. She chose to redshirt to save a year of eligibility with the goal of coming back stronger than before.
"Once I heard the recovery timeline which was 12-14 months, I knew my season was over for that year," Aguirre explained. "It was really hard to hear."
Despite the inevitable struggle Aguirre faced her sophomore year, the rehabilitation process has enabled her to grow and mature in ways that would not be possible otherwise.
"As a player, it has definitely made me have a greater appreciation for the game of softball," said Aguirre. "It's given me a deeper appreciation for physically being able to throw, hit, and even just dress out for a game."
"There are so many times when you are playing that you are tired, exhausted, and feel that you need a break physically and mentally. Once you've had a break for a year, you realize you have taken advantage of the times when nothing was really wrong with you – maybe just soreness, aches, and pains," Aguirre continued.
Although Aguirre redshirted last year, she managed to contribute in other ways from the dugout. On top of assisting with pitch calling, she provided the other catchers with valuable tips and techniques. Most importantly, she served as someone to look to for motivation.
"I think [my injury] has allowed me to work on different kinds of leadership skills and carry out different roles as a teammate. I had to find different methods of being supportive – emotionally, vocally and had to find a way to give everything I had mentally versus physically," Aguirre mentioned.
From the start, she was informed that historically, catchers have a low return rate because of the many positions they are required to throw in.
"The statistical doubts and setbacks have pushed me to want to defy the odds," Aguirre said.
Although Aguirre's complete recovery is still in the works, she has carried out the necessary mindset to get back out on the field as soon as possible. The support from teammates, trainers, coaches and her parents have made rehab what she defined as, "manageable and enjoyable."
"Everyone has put way too much time into me, I don't want to let them down," said Aguirre. "The support from them is what is pushing me to come back."
It has been about a year since Aguirre received surgery. After tolerating a heavy-duty brace for six weeks and committing to an intense six month throwing program, she is eager to return.
Aguirre began the softball journey at five years old and is craving the excitement of simply putting on her uniform and playing the game she fell in love with as a little girl.
The Tritons are coming off their third trip in program history to the NCAA Championship in 2019. Come opening day, Jan. 31, 2020, Aguirre plans on "making the most out of any opportunity, despite the outcome and being grateful for it."
"I think situations like these are going to come up more in life moving forward. It's made me realize that any setback is temporary. With a good attitude and willingness to change and adjust, you are bound to come back successful," said Aguirre.
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country. The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference. UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent. A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.
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