Star-crossed: Three-sport athlete overcomes injuries
TEAM ON THE RISE
Senior Sienna Jones enjoys the team aspect of soccer, especially this season as the Buffaloes have blossomed into one of the top teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
By DARIO RODRIGUEZ
The Tower
Shelves are made for decorations, books, and trophies.
They are not made for elite athletes. But when injuries, personal situations, and complicated life choices strike, many athletes go up on the shelf and discontinue their career.
With all odds against her, Sienna Jones overcame adversity and refused to go up on the shelf. Jones established her presence at Manteca High School as an elite athlete and great student as soon as she stepped foot on campus. She participates in cross-country, track and field, and girls' soccer, taking multiple advanced placement (AP) and honors classes.
With many setbacks from injuries, Jones has gone through numerous trials and tribulations that have resulted in less playing time in competitive activities. She broke her navicular bone in her foot, following her run to the CIF Divisionals of 2022. As well as straining her gracillis (inner quad muscle) during the Del Oro Invitational.
Cross country and track and field coach Paul Lyons has been training Jones throughout her entire high school career. Since Jones’ injury, his focus with her has been to help get her confidence back rather than her speed.
I would say when I got injured, especially last year when I broke my foot, it was probably the worst mental state I’ve been in. It was very difficult because a lot of my life revolves around sports and all of that coming to a halt super-fast didn’t end very well.”
Sienna Jones, Manteca High senior three-sport athlete
“The biggest thing when it comes to coaching young athletes after coming off an injury is rebuilding confidence. Getting a kid in shape isn’t hard, getting a kid fast isn’t hard, especially with someone like Sienna. I think getting a kid to believe in themselves after being injured and proving to themselves that ‘I am still capable of all this’ is the biggest hurdle I face as a coach because the one thing that is very hard to coach is because there is no workout for it. I have to rely on the athlete to be comfortable with pushing the envelope themselves and finding their limits,” said Lyons.
While her peak performance years were her freshman and sophomore years, breaking the 800-meter dash and 1600-meter school records for track and field and being a leading scorer on the soccer field, she has high hopes and big plans for her senior year.
Jones stated, “I definitely want to work on the records I already broke, and I want to go for a couple more. … With track, it’s like last season (2023 season), you just have to go for it, and you can’t really be nervous you just have to go for it and the times will come.”
The Tower spoke with Jones about how she is approaching her senior year, how she has handled all her setbacks, and her plans for the future.
The Tower: What has been your mental state through injury?
Sienna Jones: I would say when I got injured, especially last year when I broke my foot, it was probably the worst mental state I’ve been in. It was very difficult because a lot of my life revolves around sports and all of that coming to a halt super-fast didn’t end very well.
TT: What was your mindset coming back from an injury?
SJ: It is the total opposite. I have always been excited to get back into play, especially just now with this season (2023-24 varsity soccer). You can see all the advances we are making and how good the season is going. Even though it was very difficult last year, it made it all worth it coming back.
TT: When coaches like Lyons and (girls soccer coach Justin) Coenenberg are eager to put you back into play, do you have to take a step back and make sure you are truly prepared?
SJ: I would say the biggest thing, especially when Coenenberg says there’s a difference between being hurt and being injured, and I feel like I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to tell. … Soccer is a physical sport. You’re going to get hurt. Even track, it’s a lot on your body … so it’s being able to depict whether its “you’re hurt” or “you’re actually injured,” and sometimes I do need to take a step back and ask myself “Is it really worth it to risk getting hurt in something?” But now we are in our league, and it’s a very hard and competitive league. I would say I go full throttle at it, not be scared, and just go for it.
CHASING
HISTORY
Manteca High senior Sienna Jones is a CIF State Cross Country Championship qualifier and the school’s fastest runner in the 800- and 1,600-meter races.
TT: With setting so many records for track and field and cross country during your freshman and sophomore year, do you plan on attacking those records or any new ones?
SJ: I definitely want to work on the records I already broke, and I want to go for a couple more, especially with the 800 meters. (That) is probably my strongest race and I want to get that to a point where (the record is) not untouchable, but I want to get it as low as I can. Even the mile, the mile is a pretty hard one to hit so I was very happy with that once I got that. Track, it’s just like last season, you just have to go for it, and you can’t really be nervous you just have to go for it and the times will come.
TT: What is your current recovery routine? Or what has it been in the past?
SJ: I have a routine for before and after practice. After I broke my foot last year and from the injuries from this cross-country season, I did a lot of PT (personal training), cryotherapy, laser therapy, stuff like that. So, I do a lot of stretches and resistance band exercises as well. I know it doesn’t seem super hard or draining on your body but it’s just loosening it up and getting it ready for activity.
TT: With this year being your senior year, do you have any plans for the future? Do you have a college you plan on going to or do you have an idea of where you want to go?
SJ: I’m not set on a particular school, but I definitely know I want to keep doing sports and it’s very… I mean soccer and track are very different in their own ways, so it’s hard to go to a school that I can do both at. But I’ve had different opportunities and I’ve been talking to different places for both soccer and track. But I do think I want to stay a little close to here (Manteca) and just work on things that I’m comfortable with, even if it doesn’t mean going to a big school, going to a big school doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not making it worth it or you’re not doing what you need to. I think sticking around and staying where I’m comfortable with and still being able to do sports and getting more playing time, and then being able to transfer to another school or something like that. I think it’s a big opportunity and a big deciding factor for college.
TT: If you had to pick between track and soccer as your main sport in college, what would it be?
SJ: It’s hard to say because there are pros and cons for both, and I love them for different reasons. Like soccer is very team motivated and you’re on a team and you get to show a little bit of individual talent but it’s like you’re really there for the team. Where with track, you’re still on a team but it’s a very different individual aspect which I’ve enjoyed too just because I have a tendency to get nervous and kind of freak myself out especially before meets and games so it’s kind of nice to know that you’re in control on how you perform and whether it’s good or bad it was because of you. I also kind of like the aspect of track too where you can see all the hard work be put in, you can see it on the track. Where with soccer you can do the same thing, but it's more minor changes and you really rely on your team more.