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Watching The Game From A New Angle

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Kailey Folsom, left, watches the Riverview High School girls’ soccer team practice from the bench with teammates Tori McQueen, center, and Morgan Davis. Folsom tore her left anterior cruciate ligament during a late-October practice.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Sophomore Kailey Folsom has been playing soccer since she was 7.

This year, for the first time, she's going to be watching from the sidelines.

Folsom tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a late October practice for the Riverview High School girls soccer team and will miss the entire season, which began Nov. 10 with a match at Armwood High School.

"Not being able to play is killing her," said coach Katie Reed. "I'm thankful that she's not a junior or a senior, so she'll be able to come back next year."

While she may not be able to run around on the field with her teammates, Folsom still hopes to contribute.

"I'm planning on coming out to all the games and as many of the practices as I can," she said.

Folsom is scheduled to have surgery Nov. 20, and doctors have told her the recovery time will be between five and nine months.

Though she'll be sidelined during that time, her coach thinks she can come back as a more complete player.

"What this will do is give her a chance to see the game from the bench, which is totally different," Reed said. "My hope is that she'll be able to learn from watching from the bench and apply it to her game next year."

Reed, who was also a member of Riverview's flag football team, will also focus on her studies.

Though she is undecided about what she wants to study in college, she hopes to attend Florida State University.

"Sometimes it's hard to balance the school work with soccer, but I just try to limit my friend time and stay home and study," Folsom said.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Kailey Folsom

AGE: 15

SCHOOL: Riverview High School

GRADE: 10th

SPORTS: soccer and flag football

FUTURE PLANS: Undecided about what to study but hopes to attend Florida State University.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555.

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