Pomona’s Ross Almost All the Way Back

The late-night phone calls home to mom and the tears of nervous frustration are admittedly a long way from ending, but Michaela Ross’ comeback is considerably ahead of schedule--even her own.

Ross, a freshman swing player for perennial Division II power Cal Poly Pomona, is back on the basketball court after suffering numerous injuries in an automobile accident about 15 months ago. And although Ross hasn’t yet regained the form that made her one of Orange County’s best while at Newport Harbor High, she believes she is making strides.

“I really recover fast from injuries,” Ross said. “After I got over the initial depression about the accident, I kind of took the same mentality I did with my previous injuries and said, ‘Well, all I can do is work on getting better.’

“I also didn’t let myself admit how bad it was.”

On Oct. 11, 1993, Ross and three Pomona teammates were in an accident that left Ross, a passenger, with the most serious injuries.

Ross, knocked unconscious when her head smashed through the windshield, suffered a partially collapsed lung, fractured pelvis, fractured lower vertebrae, broken right wrist and right thumb, dislocated and broken right ankle, dislocated and broken toes on her right foot, and cuts around her right eye.

However, Ross, who was granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA, was back in the gym shooting and dribbling by last January.

The Broncos’ coaching staff is working Ross into the lineup slowly. She plays about 15 minutes a game.

“In all my years of practice, I’ve never seen someone come back to this level of competition from injuries this severe,” said Dr. Steven Gausewitz, one of Ross’ physicians.

Still, things aren’t easy for Ross. And they might never be again.

“Physically, I’m about 90% back,” said Ross, 19. “But mentally, I still have a ways to go. I need to build a lot more confidence.”

The injuries to Ross’ feet and ankles prevented her from keeping her basketball skills sharp during the recuperation process. She could dribble and shoot, but there is a lot more to the game than that.

“Because my ankle was crushed, I couldn’t jump, stop or pivot,” she said. “When I started to really practice, I was a little bit afraid because everyone around me was just as good as I used to be.”

Ross compounded her worry with lofty goals.

“I have very high expectations of myself,” she said. “I love basketball so much, I had so much fun in high school, I just want to do what I know I can do.”

In addition to her previous injuries, Ross suffered a dislocated left shoulder and left foot during practice this season. It was more than she could handle.

“I just broke down and cried because my body wasn’t working the way I wanted it to,” she said. “But then I got control of my emotions and said, ‘I just have to go on.’ ”

Her injuries have inspired her to major in sports medicine.

“I just figured I’ve gotten so much physical therapy,” Ross said, “I might as well go into it.”

Valarie Ross sees improvement in her daughter’s outlook.

“Every game I see her play, she gets a little more confident and a little less tentative,” Valarie Ross said. “Slowly, I see a smile on her face.”

*

Freshman sensation: Former Mission Viejo High volleyball player Nina Foster was named Southeastern Conference freshman of the year.

A middle blocker at Alabama, Foster had 740 kills in 123 games. She totaled 80 kills in two matches against Arkansas, had 39 against Auburn and 38 against Kentucky.