League-leading Bloom-Carroll paid Circleville a visit Tuesday night and went home with a 3-0 win over the second-place Tigers.
But the story of the night wasn’t about wins and losses, it was the first time Circleville’s Addison Edgington played in a varsity contest since being involved in a serious car accident at the end of January.
With four fractured vertebrae among the list of injuries eight months ago, when — or even if — she would be able to return to action wasn’t known.
“She’s a driven kid, she’s a special kid, she is just amazing,” Circleville coach Crystal Thornsley said. “It was a wonderful night regardless of the outcome. It was a beautiful night for our team and our program, and Addison Edgington and her family.”
Early in the summer, volleyball wasn’t even on the table and her doctors hadn’t come to a conclusion on basketball.
“I think full credit goes to Jada Truex (her physical therapist and an assistant coach) and Addison – 100 percent,” Thornsley said. “Addison had in her mind from the gate that she was coming back no matter what the doctors told her.”
A strong, hard-working young lady, she returned to the court in the middle of the first set Tuesday – 242 days since the accident.
“I was nervous at first but after the second set came, I locked in,” Edgington said.
“Obviously, no one sees the work I put in, but I know I put it all in waiting for this day,” she said. “I’ve put in a lot of work, and I think it’s paid off.”
Edgington got the loudest cheer during pre-game introductions and an even bigger cheer when she entered the game.
“I love it. It means a lot to me,” she said of the support she’s gotten from her teammates, classmates and the community.
“She’s been working so hard, and the community has just been absolutely wonderful,” Thornsley said. “Today, she was a nervous wreck going in there.
“It’s something we’ve been waiting for, preparing for, hoping for and I know she was nervous, but she will continue to get better, braver and we’re just ecstatic to have her back.”
Playing limited in the three sets Tuesday night, Edgington has no plans of easing up now that she’s back on the court.
“It’s to get in better shape, obviously, and I’m just going to keep working hard in the gym,” she said of the next steps. “And, hopefully, be back by the end of the season to my full self.”
“She’s a huge spark for us,” Thornsley said. “We’re looking forward to growing every game.”
As for Tuesday’s game, the Tigers had leads in all three sets, but the Bulldogs came back to win 25-20, 25-17, 25-16.
“Their team chemistry is a beautiful thing. You can’t teach experience, and this is an extremely experienced team,” Thornsley said. “They’re just solid all around.
“I thought my girls played well against them, but Bloom-Carroll is straight up just great. They pay well together and that’s what we’re working to get to.”
The Tigers (10-6, 5-2) head to Amanda-Clearcreek Thursday while the Bulldogs (13-1, 8-0) host Fairfield Union.