Michaela Ressegger’s moment on the basketball court at Kellenberg Memorial High School, in Uniondale, on Feb. 3 wasn’t supposed to happen.
The senior captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team had torn her left anterior cruciate ligament on Jan. 13, ending her season — and seemingly her high school career — and was on the sidelines, wearing a brace. It was Senior Day, where athletes are sent off, but their season isn't over.
But before Kellenberg and the East Islip school, St. John the Baptist , tipped off both teams agreed on something rare in competitive sports: Ressegger would get one last shot.
“I didn’t want Michaela to have her last basketball experience in a jersey and not on our court,” said Matthew Kirk, head coach of the varsity girls’ team and an assistant principal at Kellenberg. “To give her that opportunity — just thinking outside the box, we wanted to try to create a special moment.”
That moment came toward the end of the game, an easy 52-26 Kellenberg win, when Ressegger came off the bench and stepped onto the court. She moved toward the basket and stood under the basket to make the first shot of the night.
“I think it means a lot for my parents,” Ressegger said, “because they got to see me do it one last time, and it gives them a sense of relief that everything will be OK, and it gave me a highlight — for this rough time.”
It wasn’t just a basket. For the 17-year-old Ressegger, it was closure.
“I was annoyed that I couldn’t be in the game, and obviously upset, because sports have been my entire life and I couldn’t participate in the last game as a senior,” she said as tears streamed down her face. “That’s upsetting, because I’ve been on the team for three years, and I’ve played basketball here for six years.”
I was surpised and was just glad I could do it one more time.”
Kirk, Kellenberg Athletic Director John Fechtmann and St. John the Baptist Coach Donna Wilson had arranged her final uncontested layup — after which Ressegger returned to the bench and Kellenberg returned the favor, allowing a St. John player an undefended shot on the other end of the court.
“She’s been competing at a high level since freshman year — varsity in soccer, softball, basketball,” Kirk said of Ressegger. “She helped set the standard here. We just wanted to give something back.”
Michaela’s younger brother Tim — a freshman at Kellenberg who plays baseball, football and hockey — was in the stands.
He watched his older sister as role model and not dwell on the moment. She helping her team in every way she could, giving pep talks to the other girls, and essentially coaching them.
“It was really respectful for them to do," Tim said about the final shot. "She’s going to remember that moment forever – It gave us a sense of security."
Ressenger's injury — a complete ACL tear — happened in the final minutes of a game against St. Anthony’s. She was trying to stop a fast break when she planted her left foot on the court but it didn’t turn. It’s a common injury in high-impact sports that involve sudden pivots or hard landings, like soccer, football and basketball.
According to orthopedic sports physician – shoulder and knee surgeon – Dr. Mitch Robinson’s website, although roughly 85 percent of athletes who tear ACLs return to play, re-injury remains a concern. Ressegger plans to be healed by the end of the year.
She has battled injuries before. She had a partial ligament tear years ago, and had suffered a concussion, sprained her ankle and a knee injury in eighth grade. But, she said, “This was something I’d never experienced.”
Sidelined now for six to nine months, she has found a new role on the bench: player coach. “We named her captain when she was a junior, we don't typically do that," Kirk said. “Now shes out but now she’s become our fourth coach – an extention of the coaching staff.
Ressegger’s leadership off the court reflects her performance on it. With a 96 average in the classroom she is known as a model student-athlete at Kellenberg.
She may not play competitively in college — she’s considering St. John’s University or Catholic University in Washington D.C — but coaching could be in her future. She doesn’t believe she will play on the intercollegiate team at either school, instead competing more informally on a basketball club.
“My mom told me everything happens for a reason,” Michaela said.
In the meantime, she will leave an unsurpassed legacy at Kellenberg. “She’ll be remembered more than just one shot,” Kirk said. “Shes going to be remembered as a three season athlete that was a tremendous ambassador for Kellenberg.
Shes going to be remembered a lot more than just a basketball player.”
