Hillcrest senior Rylee Gritton overcomes concussion with special inspiration

MIDVALE, Utah - Rylee Gritton may have lost some of her motor skills temporarily and most of her junior soccer season, but she never lost her perspective.

Besides that, she's a finisher - a goal scorer.

The Hillcrest (Midvale, Utah) High School senior forward has almost fully recovered from a severe concussion she suffered 13 months ago and is now challenging a school single-season record for goals scored. Gritton has also earned a full soccer scholarship to Utah Valley University.

Her slow and steady road to recovery was filled with physical and emotional challenges - Gritton endured severe headaches and couldn't be around loud noises - but she was largely inspired by the courage of special needs students whom she tutored and mentored at school.

One of them was involved in a serious car accident.

"(She) flew through a car window and now she's paralyzed on one side of her body," Gritton said. "She lost everything and had to re-learn it."

Gritton's loss of sleep because of the concussion suddenly didn't seem such a big deal. Her rehab work wasn't quite so overwhelming.  Her awareness and compassion grew, as did her appreciation for simple things, like being around teammates. ... kicking a ball. ... taking the field.

None of the process was easy, however.  

"Some days, I go home a wreck," she said of her peer tutoring conversations. "It is sad to hear what happened to them. It makes me thankful for what I have. I'm glad that I wasn't permanently hurt and that it didn't stop me from playing forever."

Liker her path on the pitch to score goals, Gritton's will to overcome never wavered. She was relentless.

Everything changed

Just over a year ago, Gritton prepared for her junior year and split time between her club team, the Utah Avalanche, and Hillcrest. In the final minutes of a late-August Hillcrest home game, Gritton fell and suffered a major concussion. In those seconds, everything changed.

"I had tweaked my knee so I was stretching," Gritton said. "I got lightheaded, and I fell back and passed out and hit my head. I was told I had a seizure while I was out, and the ambulance had to come get me."

Gritton and her mom, Jodi, believe the dizziness was caused by locked knees, which blocked blood flow. Doctors could never confirm.

Jodi saw her daughter fall out of the corner of her eye. "I tried to get to her but it was too late. It was terrible."

Gritton was out of school and soccer full-time for approximately two months. Activities at home were even limited.

"(Doctors) wouldn't let her watch TV or go to school or do homework. She couldn't be around friends or anything loud," Jodi said. "A lot of (her rehab) was not having her mind think at all. Her brain needed to rest to get those (nerve) connections back."

Gritton spent much of her time trying to sleep, which was hampered by severe headaches. Soon she began working on exercises given to her by her neuropsychologists.

As her status improved, she was able to have visitors – "my soccer team did a lot; they would come over and be with me" – and eventually she ventured out to watch practice.

"She so much wanted to play," Hillcrest coach Megan Beckstead said. "It was hard because she looked capable. She didn't have a cast, she could run and kick the ball. She didn't look hurt, but doctors wouldn't clear her."

Pushing through
By the end of September, Gritton was cleared to make her way back. Hillcrest made a playoff run and she could finally spend time on the field.

At first is was just five minutes at a time, and soon 10. But as she played, it was clear the concussion had effected her motor skills.

"I noticed a big difference in her speed and agility and balance," Jodi said. "When she first came back, those things were a little bit off. A ball would be coming and she was a little late, there was a delay in her reactions."

This carried over into her ability to learn.

She's received extra help at Hillcrest through tutors and spent loads of time at the concussion center at TOSH (The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital).

"It's been paying off, but she has to work really hard," Jodi said.

But she's pushed through. She's back to full speed while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average.

Heading into the playoffs, Gritton has scored 14 goals and her goals per game average ranks second in the state's 4A division. The school record of 20 was set in 2003 by Rebecca Riddle, a former All-State recipient and current assistant coach at Hillcrest,.

"That's what impressed me the most about Rylee - she didn't give up," Jodi said, "She could have. A lot of people would have. Can you imagine having a chemistry class and you can't go to the first few months? I think she has even more determination now."

Beckstead agreed.

"I wish I would have had this Rylee the last three years," she said. "She's stronger in better shape and has the mentality to get the job done."

That's what finisher's do.