Harp will play soccer again

My heart sank when I heard the news the night of March 1. And I'm sure many of you felt the same way.

That night was the soccer season-openers at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium at Springdale High, with both the Panthers and Lady Panthers in action.

The boys team lost 4-0 that night and the girls played Springdale to a scoreless draw, but none of that really mattered at the time.

All that was running through my mind was how senior Khenli Harp was doing.

Harp went down with a torn ACL in her left knee that night, an unfortunate injury for anyone to suffer but especially tough for her.

You see, Harp, who has played varsity soccer since she was a freshman, was just coming off the same injury to the ACL in her right knee from the year before, which cost her the rest of her junior season.

"I was really shocked," Harp said. "I felt it and I thought there's no way this could happen a second time. I just kind of laid there and Coach (Brian) Nitz knew it was my ACL right away.

"Yeah I was devastated. It's been really, really hard."

These words are from a discussion Harp and I had earlier this month, moments before she signed to play college soccer at Hendrix.

Despite the injuries to both of her knees, Harp will play soccer again and will not be defeated by her setbacks.

"I'm very, very thankful and I feel really blessed to still have the opportunity to play college soccer and thankful to the coaches at Hendrix for understanding where I'm coming from and to be able to accept me," she said.

Harp had surgery to repair her injured knee on March 8, and as recently as April 13 had been cleared to jog.

She won't likely be cleared to play soccer until the late summer or fall, but "keeping my eye on college soccer makes it a lot better."

Harp said the rehab this time around has been easier physically, however mentally it has been "way harder."

But through it all, she keeps grinding it out.

"Everyday I'm getting stronger," she said, "and I will play soccer again and God has a plan for everything."

So the plan for Harp for the rest of this season is to be the best teammate and supporter of the Lady Panthers she can be. Just like last season, when Siloam Springs won its second straight state title, Harp will be there cheering on her teammates.

"That helps a lot too," she said, "being with my team and laughing with them. Being happy with them makes it a lot easier."

It's a tough pill to swallow for sure, but Khenli Harp is sure making the best of it under very difficult circumstances.

-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.