The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Blevins comes back from gym class accident to make presence felt

Fairborn senior scores big on No. 1 Springboro
2/11/12
Motivated Mason downs Middies
2/11/12
Defense inspires Falcons’ OT win against Rams
2/11/12
Crusaders hand Eagles 1st home loss
2/11/12
Franklin rolls past Oakwood to go 18-0
2/11/12
> More sports headlines

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 10:19 AM Friday, March 19, 2010

COLUMBUS — Madison High School junior Rachel Blevins found out just two days before the Division III state semifinal girls basketball game Thursday, March 18, that she would be back on the floor.

Madison coach John Rossi didn’t think doctors would clear her to play, but play she did in the Mohawks’ 50-43 win over Ironton at the Schottenstein Center.

“She hadn’t played in three games,” Rossi said, “And for her to come in, she did an excellent job of rebounding the basketball today for us.”

Blevins was injured during physical education classes at Madison two weeks ago. She was standing behind a male student who inadvertently hit her in the face, above her left eyebrow, with his ping pong paddle.

The gash required eight stitches on the outside and two more dissolvable stitches on the inside. There was also fear that she had damage to the eyeball itself.

“She looked like she’d been in a heavyweight fight when I first saw her,” Rossi said. “I really didn’t think she’d be back.”

In the postgame press conference on Thursday, Ross was asked whether this was a freak injury, and Mohawks teammate Lindsay Hoskins answered with a chuckle.

“If you know Rachel though, something like this could only happen to her,” Hoskins said.

Blevins was fitted with special protective glasses on Wednesday.

“It was really hard to overcome everything, but it was just amazing how we all responded,” Blevins said. “Ashley Cox did an amazing job stepping up in my place. This is all incredible.”

Blevins drew three fouls almost in rapid succession when she came into the game. “It was just me being excited,” she laughed, “But it felt great to be back.”

Rossi had hoped to play Blevins for at least eight minutes, with the goal of hauling in a rebound a minute. Blevins played five minutes and finished with six rebounds, and also scored eight points.

Share this article