ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – On Friday night, UCF Women's Soccer's 10-member senior class will walk out on the pitch to be recognized. For Kayla Adamek, knees that have endured three ACL tears and five surgeries will carry the pony-tailed blonde to midfield to celebrate a moment in her career she's never given up on.
"I never thought of quitting at all," Adamek said. "Every time you learn something new when you go through the recovery process. I think that I've been able to come back stronger mentally each time. I think it's actually helped me with my game."
In ninth grade, Adamek tore her ACL for the first time but rallied through it to eventually land a spot on the U17 Canadian National Team.
The Ottawa native committed to UCF, and arrived on campus in the fall of 2013 at the same time as UCF head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak.
She appeared in all 23 games, making 16 starts as a rookie. Before her sophomore year, she suffered a second ACL injury, causing her to miss the entire 2014 campaign.
Returning stronger in 2015, she started all 19 games, netting six goals with six assists for 18 points on the season. Last season, she made 16 appearances before suffering yet another season-ending injury.
"When you tear your ACL, you know it's a long process, but you have to focus on each day," Adamek said. "Eventually each day will go by and, before you know it, you're back on the field. If you focus on 'Oh it's going to be this long until I get back,' it can really knock you down. Every time, it's been worth it. It's always worth it."
One of the most selfless people you will ever meet, she constantly deflects attention.
She also credits her teammates in postgame interviews for setting up her goal or finishing a pass from her. When asked what her motivation was, she again pointed to someone other than herself.
"When I was in seventh grade, I had a coach, Mark Hearn, that had cancer four times," Adamek said. "He told me that he believed in me and that he thought that I would go far. I thought, if he can battle cancer four times, I can come back from a surgery."
Now she has his number tattooed on her arm as a reminder.
Statistically, Adamek is having her best season as a Knight in 2017. She has bagged a career-best 10 goals, adding three assists for a career-high 23 points on the campaign.
Comebacks are more memorable than setbacks.
Adamek couldn't agree more. Her first assist of the season set up classmate Christine Creighton for the game-winner against No. 4 North Carolina.
"It was really hard for me to come back from my third ACL (injury)," she said. "The UNC game made me realize that this is a comeback for the team and myself. It made me believe that we could achieve anything as a team. That comeback is much greater than anything I've been through."
Entering the final stretch of her final campaign with the nationally ranked Black and Gold, Adamek continues to credit everyone else for her success.
"The team never gave up on me," Adamek explained. "When you have all of these surgeries, you go through ups and downs with emotions. The team has always been there for me, even when I was at my lowest point. That's why I want to give back to the team and be my best for them."
With the American Athletic Conference championship on the line Friday night when the No. 7 Knights host USF in the regular season finale, Adamek is prepared to give 110 percent effort – not for herself, but for those around her.
"It's the team that inspires me the most," she said. "Everyone is putting their all in, so I just want to do my best to help them win a championship."
