Kent State of Mind: Eléna Maier - Making the Most of It
3/5/2025 1:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
I'm sitting here in a boot, battling yet another injury in my college career, and to be honest, I didn't think I'd be here.
At the start of the season, I was expecting to be out on the floor with my teammates, competing for another MAC Championship.
But as it turns out, that's not in the cards for me.
Still, I'm grateful to play an important role on the team this year.
While I'm a redshirt junior, I feel like a senior who's been through battle after battle. Although I'm not on the court, I'm doing all I can to support my teammates from the sidelines.
I've learned a lot about life through these injuries.
It's made me mentally tougher and taught me how to persevere through some really tough struggles.
And to be honest, I've learned a whole different perspective about being part of a team.
The most important lesson I've learned is that Kent State is home for me.
I'm so thankful to the school and the coaching staff for giving me an opportunity and never giving up on me, even when I was injured.
I might not be able to finish my basketball career the way I'd like, but I'm proud to be a Golden Flash and give credit to Kent State.
The Injury Bug
I wish I could say this foot injury was the first major injury I've had in my basketball career, but unfortunately, that's not the case.
During my last year of AAU in high school, I tore my ACL.
That was a tough one to swallow, especially since a lot of the schools that were recruiting me stopped talking to me once I went down with that injury.
Kent State, however, never gave up on me.
Coach Starkey and the rest of the coaching staff stayed in contact and ended up giving me an offer.
And accepting that offer was the best decision I could have ever made.
I'm so thankful for their faith in me. They believed I could be a valuable player even after tearing my ACL.
I wouldn't be here today without them.
The recovery process was brutal, though.
I'd never really been hurt before, so I had no idea what to expect.
I ended up having to redshirt my first year at Kent State because it took me 18 months to recover from the injury.
In February of my sophomore year, I went up for a layup in practice, and I felt my ACL give out a second time.
It's difficult to describe my feelings at the time.
It was a major blow, not going to lie.
In retrospect, I'm just thankful that I was able to recover from that injury.
I had access to all the resources at Kent State, and I think that made a big difference. I was able to see an athletic trainer every day instead of twice a week at home.
It took me about eight months to recover from that injury, and I was finally able to play a little bit of last season.
The highlight of my career was undoubtedly winning the MAC Championship.
Our team went through so much adversity with team injuries that season, and to come out on top was the best feeling in the world.
I was able to play in the championship game, and it was incredible, a very special moment for sure.
I'll never forget the triumphant feeling when I saw confetti falling down on us — it was one of the best days of my life!
As I was coming into this season, I was so excited to compete again.
But then, in September, I injured my foot in practice.
I don't know if I stepped on my teammate's foot or if she stepped on mine — it all happened so quickly.
It was a weird injury; I didn't think it was that bad initially, maybe like a foot sprain.
But after an MRI, X-rays, and CT scans, I found out I broke four bones and tore a ligament in my foot.
Now, I'm in the recovery process once again.
It's a reality that injuries happen. My experiences have offered me the ability to be a valuable part of the team on the court and from the bench.
Dental School
I've loved sports ever since I was a little kid.
I played everything I could — basketball, volleyball, softball, golf, you name it.
Life outside of sports exists, and I've always taken my academics just as seriously as my basketball.
I'm a student-athlete, and the student comes first.
This may sound comical. When I was younger, I was incredibly disciplined in my sleeping habits.
I wanted to grow as tall as possible for basketball, so I diligently set my alarm for the optimal eight hours every night.
No exceptions and down to the minute. In fact, if the eight-hour mark didn't grant me the time to brush my teeth, then that was my sacrifice.
Well, that sacrifice cost me: my one and only cavity at 11 years old.
Now, this took a major hit to my pride.
I have three older siblings, and we're all very competitive. They still remind me that I am the only one that had a cavity.
From that cavity, my infatuation with teeth began.
I grew up on a farm, so I loved working with my hands, and I always wanted to be my own boss.
I shadowed several dentists and other dental specialists. I liked the atmosphere and the teamwork between the dentist and the staff.
All of these things led me to the dental field, and I'm so excited to begin the next chapter of my life at Marquette School of Dentistry in the fall of 2025.
The Support System
I'm beyond blessed to be a student-athlete at Kent State.
I've met some of my best friends here, and I have so so many fond memories.
My friends and coaches have been supportive of me in every way imaginable, and I'm very thankful for each one of them.
They've helped me grow on and off the court and have been there for me every step of the way.
And, of course, I have to thank my family for being my biggest supporters since day one. They have inspired me to always shoot for the stars.
Whether it's basketball or dentistry, I know they got me.
I am beyond grateful for the opportunities and experiences that will benefit me as I serve others in my journey.
THANK YOU, Kent.
Onto spreading more smiles.
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