Women's Basketball | January 05, 2023

vResilience is a trait that cannot be taught. For some, it is an innate response to a tough situation. Chesney Gardner has embodied this trait as she has undergone drastic changes in her athletic career. 
 
The Black Mountain, N.C., native came to USC Aiken to pursue her dreams of playing college basketball while getting the best education available to her. The environment of the campus and the coaching staff led Gardner to realize it would be a perfect fit. 
 
"I loved the coaches and the facilities. I am an education major and the program here is amazing. That is what really pushed me to come here," Gardner said. 
 
After two successful seasons on the court, Gardner suffered an injury that altered the course of her college experience. Just over a month before her third season, she dislocated her knee during practice and underwent reconstructive surgery. 
 
Gardner said, "It was a pre-season practice and we were running down and back. I already had shin splints but ran it one more time. I blew my knee out, dislocating it."
 
The surgery completely changed the structure of her knee to ensure it would not dislocate again, however, due to the lack of cartilage and recurring pain, the injury was career-ending for Gardner. 
 
Before accepting the ultimate demise of her athletic experience, Gardner worked tirelessly to rehabilitate herself to be the player she once was. 
 
"I worked all summer to try and get back and I was in so much pain. I decided to get another MRI to check it out and the conclusion was to either get shots in my knee and focus on pain management, or I don't play," said Gardner. "I didn't think I can handle 7-9 months of being in pain along with my other knee being high-risk. It could blow too." 
 
Taking all of the risks into account, the decision to retire was clear for Gardner. Although she is now a retired athlete, she is still heavily involved with her team, participating in a managerial role.
 
"I am at every practice, every lift, every team event, everything team-wise, I am still there participating to the fullest extent," Gardner said. "I am here to help and support my teammates in whatever way I can."
 
Since coming to college, basketball has been an uphill battle for Gardner despite her injury. Learning to adjust to the expectations of collegiate athletics has been challenging. 
 
Gardner said, "Collegiate sports are the next level of intensity. You're going 100 miles faster, you have to learn so many new things about people, coaching styles, etc. All of these things mound up against you and it's a constant push."
 
Facing the fact that she would not be able to play in another game was mentally demanding on Gardner. She spent the entirety of the previous season observing and learning the game to a more meticulous degree. This level of focus caused her to feel prepared for competition to a greater magnitude. 
 
"Being able to watch everything last year, I felt like I learned so much. I was ready to play this year and take the knowledge I got. Now not being able to even run anymore has been very hard. It's all very sad," Gardner said. "My mom was telling me before I got injured that she wanted to see me play one more time. She's never going to. Nobody is. I don't get to be competitive anymore."
 
Despite the emotional departure from competition, Gardner sees her situation as an opportunity for her future. With aspirations to one day be a coach, looking at basketball through a new lens is a beneficial thing.
 
Gardner said, "I like to think of it as a new chapter, a new start. I love coaching and eventually want to get into it. Learning what I can now as a coach is something that is going to help me. I am excited about that."
 
Gardner has endured many struggles in college that have taught her lessons she will carry throughout her life. For her, the biggest takeaway from being a student-athlete has been the ability to persevere. 
 
"Perseverance is something I've learned. I really struggled to learn how to be a better player. Learning what my role is. In college, you're learning who you are and how to keep going through it," said Gardner. "With what I've been through and not being able to play, I had to figure out how to keep moving forward. It is something I will take with me for the rest of my life."