Stockdale senior Collatz sidelined after tearing ACL
| Friday, Sep 03 2010 06:35 PM
Last Updated Friday, Sep 03 2010 06:35 PM
Plans for Alex Collatz's big senior year have been derailed by a serious knee injury the defending state discus champion suffered in a volleyball game Thursday night.
Alan Collatz, Alex's father and the track and field coach at Cal State Bakersfield, said his daughter, a senior at Stockdale, has been diagnosed with a torn anterior crucial ligament and torn cartilage in her left knee.
She'll have surgery as soon as swelling subsides.
"She's crushed," Alan Collatz said. "Devestated. I'm trying to be the strong one, but I'm crushed, too."
Alan Collatz said they still hoped Alex would be able to compete next spring in high school track.
"There's no timetable right now," he said. "But (track and field) is not out. As long as the surgery's successful and does not re-injure it during rehab. It may be a late start, but we will work hard together, and she will be back."
Collatz, a two-time USA Today All-American, won the discus title at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in June with a throw of 170 feet, 9 inches. Her 180-9 personal record earlier in the season led high schoolers nationally.
Collatz was fourth in state as a freshman and second to Shafter's Anna Jelmini as a sophomore. She also placed fifth in the shot put last year, too, and is a recruiting target for colleges across the country.
"She was ready for a huge year," Alan Collatz said. "But what can you do? You've got to move forward. Sometimes stuff like that happens."
