For most of his life, wrestling has been a big part of Blake Bartos’ identity. The 18-year-old recently graduated from Buckeye High School in Medina, where wrestling runs deep in his family. Blake started wrestling when he was 6 years old, following in the footsteps of his dad, uncle, cousin and brother, all of whom […]
College student on the mend thanks to care at Akron Children’s for torn ACL
For Ridgewood High School softball player Maggie Shannon, her senior season ended far too soon. Just 8 games into the year, the 17-year-old suffered a devastating injury while running the bases. “She pivoted to head back to second, and as she turned, she felt a pop and dropped to the ground,” recalled her mom, Robin. […]
Basketball phenom turns a setback into a comeback with help from Akron Children’s
When 14-year-old Trinity Finnie suffered a devastating ACL injury, it could have sidelined her basketball dreams. Instead, with help from Akron Children’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine teams, she’s proving that ACL injury recovery can be just as inspiring as victory on the court. Learn more about her story as told by her mom, Tamika Jenkins. […]
After helping young athletes get back in the game, Dr. Joe Congeni set to retire
Dr. Joe Congeni was a Cleveland kid who grew up loving his hometown, sports and, early on, became a firm believer in the good that can come from being part of a team. As he retires Aug. 1 from Akron Children’s, where he served as the long-time director of Sports Medicine until 2024, he considers […]
Courtney bounces back after 9 orthopedic surgeries
What do you do when you’re an active kid, and your joints keep hurting? You seek help from an expert. That’s just what Courtney Carpenter of Girard, Ohio and her family did. “I was a gymnast for many years, until the pain got so bad that I was forced to quit,” she said. “In high […]
From full-court dreams to injured reserve: College athlete’s road to recovery
In fall 2023, 18-year-old Samair Colon was living her dream playing college basketball on an athletic scholarship at Southwest Community College in Creston, Iowa, 800 miles away from her hometown of Campbell, OH. But in November 2023, everything came to a screeching halt. “We were in the middle of a game when I went for […]
