As the clock clicked down to all zeroes, signaling Baylor’s first state soccer championship since 2004, the team members on the bench all ran out onto the field.
One of the first players on the field was junior McKenzie Thomas, a 2009 Division II-AA all-stater. Thomas had a team-leading 18 goals and eight assists as a sophomore but tore the ACL in her right knee two days before the start of the season and could not play.
However, there was no injury that was going to keep Thomas off the field for the postgame celebration Friday night.
“This is the thing that I’ve been waiting for since eighth grade when I moved up to varsity,” she said. “I’ve sat on the bench and watched, but to see my girls get the win – I didn’t care about a torn ACL at that point.”
Thomas has been rehabbing at the D-1 Sports Training complex and hopes to be back playing in March.
“I hope to be able to start running in a few weeks,” she said.
When it was pointed out that it looked as though she had already starting running, she laughed and said, “It was a special occasion.”
Baylor coach Jimmy Weekley said he missed Thomas’s sprint onto the field but was pleased by her approach to the season.
“She became such a big fan and supporter to the other players,” he said. “It was so good seeing her support the other girls since she wasn’t able to be out there.”
He also knows that her presence on the field will only make his team’s offensive attack that much more potent in 2011. The Lady Red Raiders lose only Taylor Pannell up front but have to replace Alex Cannon, Hannah Edmonds and goalkeeper Katherine Rodgers on defense.
“McKenzie brings a lot to us,” Weekley said. “I can’t wait to see her play next year.”
Added Thomas: “I’m so ready to play. I’m already fired up; I’m going to give it my all like I always do, so watch out.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/gh3sports