CORVALLIS, Ore. – On October 23, 2020, on a back road in Montana, Michaela Fetzer’s life changed forever. The Carroll College softball player was involved in a head-on-head collision the fall before her junior season, where she suffered multiple injuries and was told she’d never play softball again.
“The first people on the scene thought there was no way there were survivors,” said Fetzer. “I was told I would never play softball again and I would be lucky even to be able to run. The doctors even told me to consider not going back to school because it would be too hard.”
The Taylorsville, Utah, native had multiple broken bones, including the left side of her face, ribs, and sternum. She also suffered a brain injury, collapsed lung, lacerations, torn patella, and a punctured eye (where she still has a blind spot almost two years later).
“I said, ‘They don’t know me. They didn’t understand what softball meant to me,’” recalled Fetzer after she was told the extent of her injuries and what her future should look like. “They kept trying to close the door and I kept putting my foot in the way.”
Fetzer went to two hospitals and weighed about 100 pounds when she was discharged. She underwent six surgeries – four of which were during the softball season and while Fetzer was still in classes – but was determined to not only be back but be back stronger.
“I wanted to be better than they thought I could be, better than what they said I could be,” said Fetzer. “I had made the decision that I would be back. COVID had taken the season before away from me and I decided I was going to do what I said I was going to do and finish playing college softball. I knew I had to put in extra time and work through the pain to get to the level I was before, if not better.”
Coming out of the hospital, Fetzer had physical and speech therapy three times a week, but Fetzer wanted more. On top of Fighting Saint softball practices, Fetzer would workout herself. She was running by January 2021, although her limp didn’t go away until last June, and even got back in the batting cages just three months after her accident.
Although Fetzer didn’t play her junior season, she always felt the support from her teammates.
“I felt the support from my team the whole time,” said Fetzer. “They sent texts, notes, and called me while I was in the hospital. I felt like a member of the team still. It felt very good.”
Still, that year’s team picture day hit her hard.
“I saw what I had lost,” said Fetzer. “I learned as quick as it takes to put on your uniform, it can be taken away.”
Fetzer used that to shift her mindset and on February 11, 2022, she stepped into the batter’s box for her first game back. She came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk. Leading up to that game had a lot of emotions.
“It was exciting, but I had a lot of nerves,” said Fetzer. “Everyone else didn’t have a lot of time off. I wanted to prove myself and show them I’m meant to be there. I’m back and I’m better than I was.”
She had done just that. Fetzer was faster than she was before her accident – something her teammates joke is credited to the metal rod she has from her knee to her ankle in her left leg. Fetzer appeared in 34 games for the Saints, making four starts, and was awarded Female Comeback Player of the Year at Carroll’s Halo Awards this year.
Each time she stepped onto the field, Fetzer was appreciative for the opportunity.
“Before I used to have the mentality of ‘What do I need to fix?’ when I made a mistake,” said Fetzer. “Now, I know it’s a game. I don’t want to lose, but I also don’t have to beat myself up [if I make a mistake]. I try to have fun with it and tell myself ‘You know what you’re doing.’”
On May 15
th, Fetzer walked across the graduation stage at Carroll to receive her diploma in political science with a minor in communications and public relations.
“It was very humbling and honoring,” said Fetzer. “It was a moment I was told I wouldn’t get to. Classes were hard but I made it through. I had a sense of pride. I did this.”
Fetzer should be proud of what she has accomplished. She didn’t take no for an answer, but rather used it as fuel and show people that she is capable, and she’s not done yet. Fetzer is headed to Europe to continue playing softball internationally.
“When things get hard, you have the option to let it hold you down or help you,” said Fetzer. “I didn’t allow what happened to hold me down but lift me up.”