Bishop Noll's Avila has overcome a lot to get back in the game

HAMMOND | Coming back from an injury is difficult. Coming back from two injuries is even harder.

Getting back on the soccer pitch after a pair of stress fractures and a torn meniscus while working three-plus jobs and acting as student council vice president could easily be described as heroic.

That is what Bishop Noll senior Yesenia Avila has done during her three and a half seasons with the Warriors. She played softball and sang in the choir, too.

"I'm always tired and I don't have a lot of time to spend with friends," Avila said. "I do what I can when I can."

B.N.I. coach Lorenza Jara Pastrick, who has known Avila since she was a freshman, thinks that exhaustion led to some of her injuries.

Avila is such a stranger to the couch that when she was laid up with a bright red cast -- the color of the homecoming dress she wore the day after it was put on -- she was actually uncomfortable.

"It felt weird not doing something," Avila said. "I've never really had free time. It was fun to be able to relax and just chill."

She spent the time talking with her family, something Avila said she doesn't get to do as often as she'd like.

Her mother, Juanita Flores, has raised Avila and her three brothers since her father died when she was younger. All four kids have attended private school. At times, money can be tight. So Avila has always worked when she could to help pay some of the bills.

This summer, she made sandwiches at Penn Station, worked consessions at Railcats games, did filing work for a family friend and babysat as often as possible. At least, she did when she could walk.

After having surgery June 7, doctors cleared Avila to play in Thursday's game with Wheeler.

When Jara Pastrick sent text messages to her team announcing Avila's return, the response was overwhelming.

"I think I got one 'whoo hoo,' one 'about time' and one 'please don't be joking with us,'" Jara Pastrick said. "There was a sense of relief because with (Avila's) work ethic, she's well-respected."

Avila is a team leader, even if she's not the best player on the Noll roster. Her aim this season is to score her first varsity goal. She'll see minutes at forward rather than defense this year, making that objective more attainable.

"If I can get one I'll be happy for the rest of my life," she said.

That's not to say that Avila is a bad player. She made the all-Northern Indiana Soccer Conference team as a sophomore. When the Warriors see how hard Avila works, even while restricted by injury, they can't help but follow suit, Jara Pastrick said.

That drive isn't limited to the pitch, either. When the other girls were having a good time during a car wash fundraiser, Avila was working it like a job.

"Her work ethic is unparalleled," Jara Pastrick said. "I've never seen another kid like her."

When Avila steps back on the field, nobody expects her to take it easy on a weak leg -- least of all Avila herself.

"I'll go all out and hope to God that nothing happens," she said. "I really want to get out there."