Sept. 5, 2006

KENNESAW, Ga. - The year of an athlete's career is an emotional one. For most their collegiate playing days will mark the end of competitive sports. For others it marks the fruitful farewell of amateurism and the catapult in the professional ranks. However, for Paula Takara, her senior season is going to be met head on by battling through a tore ACL to enjoy a final year of college tennis as successful as her first three years.

At the end of last season Takara and her teammates were enjoying an end of the year trip to Virginia Beach, celebrating the Owls first season as a Division I program. After winning the first match of the weekend against Longwood, the Owls were in the midst of losing to Old Dominion when Takara injured her knee.

"I remember it was in the first set and the girl I was playing hit a drop shot that I reached," said Takara. "Then she hit a lob and I went back for it and then it happened. It hurt so bad."

Takara had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and it didn't take anyone long to figure out that her season was over. The only other question that remained would be whether or not she would be able to play the following spring.

"I had surgery at the end of May and I have been in rehabilitation for a little while now," smiled Takara as she sat at the opening day of practice in shorts and a t-shirt. "It was tough in the beginning though."

Especially tough on Takara was the fact that throughout her playing days she had never suffered a major injury. Having battled through "ankle and back stuff that everyone goes through," the native of Sao Paulo, Brazil had to fight through not only the physical impact, but the emotional one as well.

"Little injuries are part of being an athlete," continued Takara. "But nothing prepared me for an injury that required surgery."

Part of the spirit that helped make Takara an all-conference performer at Lees-McRae before coming to Kennesaw State has helped Takara take this latest challenge in stride.

"I'll be better for the spring," she triumphantly smiled. "I just want to be in shape when I start practicing in February."

Perhaps the biggest part of Takara's rehab has been her teammates, most especially her best friend and fellow Lees-McRae teammate Giselle Nakakura. The pair, who have friends since becoming doubles partners at sixteen, came to Kennesaw State together after their freshman year and have been inseparable ever since, including the time immediately after Takara's injury.

"I remember I was playing my match and when I heard her I threw my racquet and ran over to her," said Nakakura. "I was so desperate and scared. I kept asking her if she was alright."

Both from Brazil, it was Nakakura who was by Takara's bedside after she had her surgery in May.

"She was with me a lot of the time," grinned Takara. "She did everything for me when I couldn't do things myself. She would visit often so I wouldn't be lonely."

"I tried to be comforting," said Nakakura. "I would visit her because she couldn't go out and do things so I would stay with her and try to help."

Now her help is pushing her friend and teammate to return to the court so they can resume their dominant doubles play.

"I want to get back and play with her," said Takara.

"She'll be back," added Nakakura. "She's really, really determined to get through this and she will."

As the team gathered around her during breaks in practice there was the normal giggles and smiles of teammates enjoying their element, warm weather and, adoring fans. There was also Paula Takara enjoying being around her element - her sport, her team, her friends - her support.