A Journey of Strength and Recovery

Anna Williams is no stranger to adversity. A senior at Kearney High School, Anna has spent her athletic career honing her craft in two physically demanding sports: pole vaulting and diving. While both sports may seem worlds apart, they are strikingly similar when it comes to the athletic demands. Both sports require immense core strength, flexibility and a solid mental game.

“I’ve done pole vault for about four years, and diving going on three years,” Anna said. “My favorite, though, is diving.”

Despite her success in both sports, Anna’s journey has been anything but easy. Her experience with Liberty Hospital Sports Medicine began in 2021.

“I first came to Sports Medicine because of a broken heel,” she recalled. “Brie Holst (physical therapy assistant) played a crucial role in my recovery. After eight weeks in a cast, two weeks in a boot and six weeks of physical therapy, I was ready to get back to work.”

Unfortunately, Anna’s time with Sports Medicine didn’t end there.

“I returned again due to a thickened ligament in my shoulder, and once again, Brie guided me through six more weeks of physical therapy,” Anna said. “She made sure I was strong enough to continue my athletic pursuits.”

The toughest challenge came in 2023 when Anna tore the labrum in her hip and found herself back at Sports Medicine. This time, Blake Edwards, PT, worked with her during her pole vault season before referring her to a hip surgeon.

“The surgery was intense, and I was on crutches for two weeks,” she said. “The road to recovery was long — six months of physical therapy where Blake helped me rebuild my flexibility and strength.”

Blake emphasized the specific challenges in Anna’s recovery: “For diving, we focused on restoring full hip range of motion since positions like pike and tuck require significant hip mobility,” he said. “For pole vaulting, we had to prepare her hip for the impact of running, sprinting and jumping off one leg, as well as the mobility needed to swing her legs over the bar.”

Now in her senior year, she reflects on her past and looks ahead to the future.

“I’m planning to go out of state for college and continue diving,” Anna said. “Looking back, I can confidently say that the Sports Medicine program at Liberty is the best place you could send someone. The PTs are detail-oriented and dedicated to helping you become your best self, no matter the obstacles you face.”

Blake remains confident in Anna’s bright future. “Anna never lost focus or the drive to get better,” he said. “Her success last season in both diving and pole vaulting, and her continued progress into her senior year and beyond, is a testament to her work ethic and determination. I’m grateful to have been a small part of her journey.”

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