TENNERTON – Despite two devastating knee injuries that robbed her of her junior and senior seasons of lacrosse, there was a happy ending, or perhaps we should say a new start for Buckhannon-Upshur’s Kiara Woods.
Woods will be able to continue her lacrosse career after signing a letter of intent to play at Alderson-Broaddus University at a recent ceremony at the high school.
“It means a lot to be able to continue my career after two ACL tears on both knees,” stated Woods. “It is truly an honor to be able to play after two really big injuries. I hate losing my senior season of lacrosse but I feel really grateful that I can continue my career.”
Woods said it was an easy choice selecting Alderson Broaddus as her new home come this August.
“It was really everything about that place,” said Woods. “When I met the team, they made me feel like I would be part of the team. Along with the coaching staff and facilities, I just fell in love with it. The coaching staff saw tapes of me playing and also watched me play in the offseason and decided to contact me about coming to Philippi.”
Woods said she is also excited that she could remain close to home to play her collegiate lacrosse in front of friends and family.
“It means so much to me to stay close to home,” stated Woods. “My parents and family never miss any of my games. It is nice to know I will have that support system behind me at Alderson-Broaddus.”
The lacrosse team is under the direction of Paxton Boyer who is in her second season at ABU. The Battlers went 4-7 in her first season last year during a shortened COVID season.
Woods said she is excited to represent Buckhannon-Upshur lacrosse at the next level.
“I am really excited to help lacrosse grow at the school and let this next generation of players know they can play this sport at the next level,” remarked Woods. “It is a very achievable goal. Despite losing two seasons to injuries, my time at Buckhannon-Upshur playing lacrosse was a lot of fun and very enjoyable. I am really going to miss it.”
For Buckhannon-Upshur head lacrosse coach Jamie Greene, it is yet another one of his players that will continue their career at the collegiate level.
“I am so proud of Kiara for taking her game to the next level and it speaks volumes of the program that we have here,” stated Greene. “She helped build our program. We are getting more athletes out and have 30 on the roster this year. That said, we certainly missed having her out on the field for us. She was going to be a dominate player for us. She has a great work ethic. I think she will go to ABU and fit right in. She has the drive and attitude to succeed. She came back from one ACL tear and I am sure she will come back from this second one.”
Woods said she is going to major in Exercise Science while at ABU.
