"A Setback is the Platform for a Major Comeback" Sheila Sickau

Sheila Sickau with niece following game (Instagram/SheilaSickau)

This weekend the Knoxville Lightning took the field without one of their most influential leaders at the helm. The franchise, only in its second year of existence, lost its starting quarterback, Sheila Sickau, to a season ending knee injury two weeks ago against the Carolina Phoenix. After tryouts last year, Sickau earned the starting quarterback job after never playing the position before. Although the inaugural season did not have the results the team hoped for, Sickau and the Lightning came into this year with a mission to prove they belonged. After earning their first ever win in franchise history, the Lightning were off to a 2-0 start and ready to play a tough Carolina Phoenix team that also came in with an undefeated record. In the first five minutes of the game, on the Lightning’s opening possession, Sickau tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) forcing her to sit out the rest of the game and sidelining the quarterback for the remainder season. We spoke with Sheila Sickau following her injury. Growing up just outside of Buffalo, New York in small town Eden, NY where the population is around 8,000 people, Sheila loved to be outdoors and play sports. A football fan at heart and determined to try the sport, she started playing tackle football at 15 years old. Sheila and her mom made a compromise to sign her up for a league where there was a weight and age limit. Sheila didn’t mind the compromise, she just wanted to be out on the field playing football and being competitive. However, after one season she would reach the age limit and be forced to stop playing, but the passion to continue participating in organized sports remained. “It was definitely a struggle, when you’re at that age, I only got that one season and then I thought I was done, that was my shot, that was my one chance!” Although she would miss football, Sheila would find other sports to get involved with during her time in high school. Throughout her four years, Sheila became a three-sport athlete playing soccer, basketball and track, eventually earning a scholarship to go division one in track to SUNY Binghamton. “Growing up football was not my main thing, I wanted it to be but it was track, soccer and my horses… I was definitely into sports but didn’t have the opportunity for football as I did for the other sports.” For most professional women’s football players this is the norm, play and be supported while you’re young, but once you reach high school, places for girls to play no longer exist. For Sheila, it didn’t matter she excelled in track, competing in hurdle races and the high jump for the University. After two years at SUNY Binghamton, Sheila would transfer to a Canisius College and complete the final two years of her degree while also being involved with the equestrian team on campus. Always busy and active, following graduation Sheila wondered what would be next, especially no longer being involved in sports. “I thought my athletic career was over, after college there’s not much out there for women, so I got involved with coaching at my old high school.” After graduation, Sheila got a job at her former high school, and throughout her five years there she coached the varsity track team, and junior varsity soccer and basketball programs. During this time, Sheila also looked for opportunities to pursue playing football; unfortunately the closest team was the New York Sharks, who play in Brooklyn, NY, which for Sickau would’ve been a six-hour trip from upstate New York.

Sheila Sickau post on Instagram (Instagram/SheilaSickau)

Fortunately for Sheila, in the fall of 2014 when she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee she came across a posting for a new team starting up in the area to participate in the Independent Women’s Football League. A special education teacher at the time, and over ten years since last playing organized football, Sheila won the starting quarterback job at tryouts as the youngest player to make the roster. In their first season the Knoxville Lightning went winless on the year, going 0-7 and only managing to score 24 total points in seven games. “I was not in the best shape of my life… I just joined the team and was excited to be apart of it… so back in October, starting to get ready for this season I basically devoted my whole life to it.” The determination paid off as Sheila dropped 30 pounds and came into this season in “the best shape of my life.” The hard work was evident on the field, as the Lightning would start the season with two big wins, one over rival the Tennessee Train for the first victory in franchise history. Last year, Sheila was able to attend the World Football Games and meet legendary players like Lisa Horton and Allie Hamlin who provided some inspiration for the rookie quarterback. “This is just the beginning of my football career, these women have been doing it for years … and I can picture myself having a future in it now because of them!” At 2-0 the team was on a roll and a large part of their success came from the offensive side of the ball, along with great defensive stops in each game. In week five of this season, the Lightning took on the Carolina Phoenix, both teams undefeated looked to keep their season heading in the right direction. Within the first five minutes of the first quarter, Sickau was playing Safety and cut to make a tackle. Unfortunately, when she planted her foot, her knee kept going. Immediately going down, MRI’s would confirm that Sheila had torn her ACL and would be sidelined for the rest of the season. “It was kind of hard to sit there and watch the rest of the game but my team stepped it up and I was so proud to see them [do that]. They played positions they may have never played before to finish the game, truly showing their heart for this game.” The ACL is an important and fragile body part for athletes, and without surgery to repair it; physical capabilities can be forever hindered. ACL tares have become all too common for athletes and the rehabilitation process can be both mentally and physically draining. However, Sheila is determined to get back on the field and credits the people around her and in her sport for the encouragement. “The coolest thing is to have people messaging me from Michigan to Seattle, even people in Europe from the World Games… there are people all over the country and world that are checking if I’m alright… that support is truly incredible right now.“ This weekend the Lightning traveled to Chattanooga to take on the Tennessee Train again, earning a hard fought 8-6, victory over their rival. “There is so much passion within it, we aren’t playing to get paid, we’re out there to play the sport we love...” For the second time this season the Lightning took down a team that had previously humiliated them last year. The franchise has improved drastically since last season; atop the affiliate division at 3-1 the future is bright for the Knoxville Lightning. When they get back a healthy and motivated Sheila Sickau they will only become better. “I will be at every practice, I will be at every game… I get some looks for coming into the gym with crutches but I like to tell people my leg is hurt but not my arms... just staying as positive as I can” Determined to get back out there and support her team, Sheila will have a lot to cheer for if the Lightning continue to play as well as they did last weekend.

Sheila Sickau working out following ACL tare (Instagram/SheilaSickau)

During her rehabilitation process, Sheila will be sharing her story throughout MyWSports so be sure to follow along and support her as she makes her way back to the field next year. It was a pleasure getting to know Sheila and the positive outlook she not only has for herself but on life. One of the best things I got to know about Sheila was her awareness of what her role means as a professional football player. She has a niece who looks up to her and throughout the interview, she mentioned being a role model, and paving a way for other little girls to see that anything is possible. “Its inspiring right now, I have a little niece who comes to all our games and to just see her and be like, ‘ you will have this opportunity!’… I always tell my team this game is not about us!” Truly the words of a leader and with her hard work and determination, Sheila will continue to lead, and break barriers in the sport not only now but in the future. Rapid Fire: Favorite Book: My Playbook Favorite Word: Determination Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect and Remember the Titans Favorite Sports Moment: My favorite sports moment would be our season opener this year. My mom, sister and niece made the trip down from New York, my two half brothers, sister-in-law and niece and nephews were also all in the stands. It was the night our team came together and overcame so many challenges that we had previously faced. We proved to everyone that we are a competitive football team. It was also the night that all the hard work I put in in the off-season began to pay off. As a result, our team achieved our first franchise win in history. After the game my two nieces came down from the stands, and in that moment I realized that someday if they wanted it, they would be able to have this same opportunity, and same feeling of accomplishment. Boundaries are being broken; times are changing, and being apart of this movement in truly indescribable.