Flight 1 tennis player Macon Larson returns for the Kernels after two-month layoff with knee injury
Apr. 11—MITCHELL — Sidelined since February, Mitchell High School's Macon Larson will make his return back to the tennis court this week.
The senior suffered a bone bruise in his knee during the basketball season after a player from Sioux Falls Roosevelt fell into his leg during the second quarter of a game on Feb. 4. The injury was later diagnosed as bone marrow edema.
Larson missed the remainder of Mitchell's basketball season and missed the start of the Mitchell's boys tennis season that started on April 1. After sitting out two straight months, Larson said he's thankful his injury wasn't worse.
"It was tough not being able to finish the basketball season," Larson said. "Looking back at the injury, I'm lucky nothing was torn and I'm lucky to be back playing now."
From the day he suffered the injury, Larson couldn't participate in any sports activities. In fact, he was told by his doctor to only rest and take Vitamin D supplements to promote bone health in his body. After weeks of physical therapy, Larson was cleared by his doctor on April 5 to return to the court, just in time to play the majority of his senior year of tennis.
The two-month layoff hasn't discouraged Larson in any way as he has no restrictions going forward and will be back playing Flight 1 singles and doubles for the Kernels as early as Tuesday, April 12 when Mitchell hosts Aberdeen Roncalli and Brookings in a triangular planned at Hitchcock Park.
In his final sport in his final year at Mitchell, Larson said he's 100 percent back healthy and fully determined to try and win a state title.
"I'm feeling good right now and I like where my game is since returning to practice," Larson said. "I'm excited and going out to try and win an ESD title and a state title is still the goal."
Larson is coming off a season last year winning 16 of his 29 Flight 1 singles matches played, which helped him earn a fourth-place finish in the state tournament.
