Bucklin junior Tana McDonald figured she’d have a ton of athletic experience under her belt by this point in her high school career. 

But McDonald’s plan of being a three-sport athlete was significantly altered after twice suffering a broken foot in volleyball in the span of a year.  

That hasn’t stopped McDonald from doing everything she can to support the Red Aces. 

“I still have the honor of being a team captain this year,” said McDonald, the Capitol Federal® True Blue® Student of the Week. “It’s been difficult (not playing), but I still show up to practices every day and go to the games and sometimes help talk my teammates through tough times when they need a mediator or anything.”

McDonald’s hardships started early in the season last year at the Pratt-Skyline tournament when she injured her foot. She tried to keep playing for the next few matches until just walking became difficult. 

She discovered the foot was broken and underwent surgery, but suffered complications that caused her to miss both the basketball and track and field seasons for her sophomore year. 

After gearing up for junior campaign this year, McDonald’s return was short-lived after she suffered the exact same fracture early in the season – this time on the opposite foot. 

“They think I was kind of born with it a little bit; I have like a small extra bone in my foot, and the doctor said one wrong move or one wrong jump could have made it happen,” McDonald said. “The bone just looked very weak from the beginning.”

Losing another season to the same injury was initially hard to cope with. 

“I was really frustrated,” McDonald said. “It was really hard to keep my head up for a little bit. I was kind of in shock. Couldn’t believe that it happened again. But, still, just the hope of having my senior year helps me get through it.”

Instead of being dejected, McDonald has focused her energy on supporting her teammates. The Bucklin volleyball team has fought back to over .500 at 20-18 despite going through two separate five-match losing streaks over the first month of the season. 

“Just being there every day through practice, still seeing the things we need to improve on,” McDonald said. “It actually helps me, seeing things off the court, a little more than it does on it. I’m able to see a better view of things: What do they need extra help on? What can I do to help in this aspect?

“It’s been a blast seeing the crazy improvements we’ve seen since the beginning of the season. Watching them succeed has been awesome.”

McDonald said the team camaraderie has helped her cope with being sidelined. 

“Even just sitting on the bench, it makes it easier when you still see your team being successful and having fun out there,” McDonald said. 

Surgery went better this time and McDonald is focused on getting back to 100 percent through physical therapy. Her goal is to compete this spring in track and field, her favorite sport. 

“Definitely, I can tell that it's improving faster,” said McDonald, who is about a month removed from surgery. “I noticed a sudden improvement. The pain stopped and it feels stronger.”

Bucklin athletic director Stefanie Couch has been impressed by McDonald’s ability to keep a positive outlook despite the injuries. 

“Through all of this Tana has kept up her spirits and has kept encouraging her teammates from the bench,” Couch said. “She has had a very good attitude through all of this adversity.”

McDonald said she’s been inspired by her brother, Gage, to keep a good attitude after he battled injuries in high school as well. 

“He had elbow surgeries and seeing him go through that has really helped me, watching him keep a good attitude,” she said. “It’s given me no reason to not have a good attitude. If he can do it, so can I.”

Going through the injuries has also helped McDonald decide on a future career path. After she graduates she plans on pursuing a career in physical therapy and attending Wichita State University. 

McDonald is involved in other activities outside of sports at Bucklin. She’s active in the National Honor Society, StuCo and serves as vice president of the Students Against Destructive Decisions club at the school. 

“It helps me feel like I’m still involved and can contribute to the school in other ways,” she said. 

She said she cherishes being a part of the tight-knit Bucklin community. 

“I absolutely love it. The community tightness, everyone is there for everybody. Everyone’s friends with everybody. You go through so many things and nobody judges you. You know you have a lot of people that have your back.”