A couple of dates will always be seared into Kate Webber`s memory.
Feb. 2, 1986: her 18th birthday.
Feb. 3, 1986: That`s when she had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee.
”No, I`ll never forget that,” said the 5-foot-9 1/2-inch Webber. ”I didn`t know what to think. It was my first surgery, but my doctor told me everything would be fine.”
Webber had cause for concern. This was her senior year at Richards High School. It was supposed to be a year of triumph in basketball instead of turmoil.
”I worked all summer just to get ready,” she recalled. ”We were in the state tournament the year before and I wanted to come back.”
She did come back. Although the Bulldogs were outclassed in the semifinals and consolation games of the Class AA tournament by Marshall and East St. Louis Lincoln, Webber`s return was a personal comeback.
She led her team with 14 points and 6 rebounds in a 47-46 quarterfinal upset over Lockport. In a 44-22 loss to Marshall, she scored 6 points but came back with another team-high 13 points and 5 rebounds in a 68-37 loss to East St. Louis Lincoln.
Webber, who is also a first baseman on the softball team and a standout volleyball player, had her first serious injury in the championship game of the Hillcrest tournament against Lincoln-Way.
”I twisted my knee coming down with a rebound,” she said. ”I remember that date, too. It was Dec. 27, 1985.”
Her team lost that game 48-39 and Webber wanted to come back as soon as possible. At first, the injury was diagnosed as a sprained knee and she underwent rehabilitation while playing part-time. The next injury occurred in practice. It proved more serious.
”All I felt was disgust,” Webber said. ”They told me it was a torn ligament. I still have it, but my leg is sturdy and the only time I have any pain is when I twist my knee.”
She didn`t come back until the regional, and even then she only saw spot duty. She would play three minutes one half, four minutes another, gradually building up strength in her knee.
”She did everything we asked her to do,” said Bulldog assistant coach Jerry Quinn. ”She`s a rare person. We gave her weight lifting work to do and swimming exercises and she did them all. People were telling her not to come back, but she wanted to.”
Webber came back ”because I love this team. Playing together this year was wonderful. Getting to the state two years in a row was great and playing in Assembly Hall was like a dream come true.
”I missed all the conference games and some chances to make all-conference, but I can`t look back. What happened, happened. I`m not bitter.”
