East junior back after 'heartbreaking' injury

WAUSAU – Gracie Reineking’s 19 points in a season-opening matchup against Mosinee in late November was memorable for a few reasons.

The performance showed the type of player the Wausau East junior can be. It also was a reminder of what the Lumberjacks girls basketball team missed last year.

“She is a definitely a game-changer and a pure competitor,” East girls basketball coach Haley Houghton said. “She loves the game and it shows. She works hard every practice at it. You never have to say, ‘Hey, Gracie. Let’s go.’ She’s always working hard and is part of the glue that holds the team together.”

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The Mosinee matchup was the first basketball game for Reineking in a year. Near the end of the 2015-16 season opener against Mosinee, Reineking tore the ACL in her left knee. She underwent surgery in early 2016 and was cleared to return to the court just in time for the start of this season.

The 5-foot-11 post player entered the week averaging 10 points and five rebounds for the Lumberjacks.

“Gracie has great double-moves in the post and probably is our only true post. Teams prepare for her,” Houghton said. “She is really good at reading the defense and posting up and she is (one of the top) shooters in the (Wisconsin Valley Conference) right now."

Reineking recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about the recovery from her knee injury and a return to the basketball court this season.

It was a long recovery for you, but what has it meant to be back on the court this year? It feels really good to be back on the court because I love the game. It’s kind of like my stress-reliever as well. If I had a rough day at school, I come in and work hard in the gym and it just gets my mind off of everything.

What was it like when you first heard the severity of the knee injury and you knew your season was over and you had a long recovery ahead? It was heartbreaking. I knew (the recovery) was going to be long and probably painful, but I just tried to keep a positive attitude about it and just focused on working hard to come back stronger.

Has there been a highlight moment since your return this year, or a game that really stands out? My first game against Mosinee. I put up 19 points, so that felt pretty good.

When did you start to feel confident again on the court with the knee? I had one practice before I came in (to her first game) and felt a little iffy and scared about being back on the court since everything happened. But I wore a (knee) brace and (as the game went on) I didn’t even really think about it.

What did you learn from sitting on the bench last year and just being able to watch the games? It was definitely a good learning experience. I could see everything from my coach’s perspective and how (the team) could take that into the next day’s practice and what we could do to improve.

Do you feel that you are still getting into your game, that you are playing at the level you did before the injury, or are you still building toward that? I think I was a little timid  (on the court) last year since it was my sophomore year. I had played on varsity (as a freshman) but not a lot. I’m feeling pretty good right now. I feel that I am near the top of my game.

Do you find that opponents have been giving you more attention as the season has gone on. That they have you marked as one of the players to stop? I’ve noticed in the games that (opponents) are doubling down on me more. It makes it more difficult, but I just go out and try my best (to contribute).

What areas do you feel you can still improve on as a player? I would say defensively. I don’t foul a lot but (defense) is an area where I could get better at.

What area has this team grown the most this year? I definitely think it's working as a team – just being able to execute plays or communicating on defense. We have just continued to bond.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

GRACIE REINEKING

School: Wausau East

Year: Junior

Sports: Basketball, softball

Family: Father, Mark; mother, Kate. brother, Carter

Favorite subject: English

Favorite music: Country music. But before games I will listen to rap to get ready

Favorite movie: “The Best of Me”