Considering the amount of adversity Joplin senior Ella Hafer has had to deal with throughout her athletic career, getting the opportunity to play basketball at the collegiate level is something she will always be thankful for.
Hafer sat down with family at her side and friends looking on as she signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Wednesday.
“This means a lot,” Hafer said when asked about getting to sign her letter of intent. “I didn’t think I would be here this time last year when I got hurt. So, I am just very thankful. This is very exciting. I am super excited.”
“I really like the coaches there,” she added about NEO. “Their college was really nice. It had that campus feel. (The coaches) were really welcoming and they just made me feel right at home.”
On top of several minor injuries, Hafer suffered a dislocated knee cap her sophomore season and suffered a chipped knee cap her junior season that resulted in a Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPLF) Reconstruction surgery. Both injuries caused Hafer, a multi-sport athlete, to miss nearly all of her sophomore and junior seasons.
“I went through a lot of injuries without the knees, too,” Hafer said. “It was a long process getting back. I am just thankful for my team and all of the coaches I’ve had who helped me get back into it.”
Hafer is currently taking part in her senior season of basketball without any sort of a knee brace. Obviously after having surgery roughly a year ago, Hafer is feeling healthy and is grateful for the chance to get back on the court and enjoy the game with her teammates before graduating and moving on to NEO.
“I am very thankful to even be playing right now,” Hafer said. “Throughout my journey, I will be very thankful for every opportunity. … It’s a lot better not having the fear of hurting myself again and just getting my confidence back.”
