Lydia Stoterau back on balance beam after three knee surgeries

Dec. 22—JAMESTOWN — Last year, doctors banned Lydia Stoterau from the balance beam.

This year, her competitors are probably wishing she still wasn't allowed to compete.

Stoterau, a junior for the Jamestown High School gymnastics team, tore her meniscus in both her right and left knee last year.

"My first surgery was in October of 2021 to repair the meniscus in my right knee," Stoterau said. "After a few months of physical therapy, they took an MRI of my left knee and told me my meniscus was torn and I needed surgery on my left knee too."

Stoterau had been participating in gymnastics since she was 3 years old and competing at the USA level since she was 7.

"Lydia is such an enjoyable athlete to coach," JHS head gymnastics coach Bre Carlson said. "I've actually had the pleasure of coaching her since she was 7 years old first starting out in JGCs (Jamestown Gymnastic Center's) competitive program. As she went on through the levels it was clear she was going to be a very talented gymnast."

In the eight years that she had been competing, the junior said she hadn't suffered any major injuries but added that her knees had been hurting for over a year before she went to the doctor to get them checked out. She said there wasn't one specific time she hurt them, both just kept getting worse over time.

"Even though she couldn't contribute a score to the team she was always a supportive teammate," Carlson said. "It can be hard to sit on the sideline and just watch while everyone else gets to do the sport you love but she was the team's biggest cheerleader."

In March 2022, Stoterau had her second surgery and did physical therapy through the summer, but she said she never got back to 100% in either knee.

"We went back to the doctor, and they told us both surgeries were unsuccessful," Stoterau said. "In August of 2022, I had my third surgery and they took the damaged parts of my meniscus in my right knee out."

After the third surgery, Stoterau continued with physical therapy for months.

"My strength improved but I still had a lot of pain in both knees," Stoterau said. "Because the second surgery on the right knee did not decrease my pain, we decided not to have another surgery on my left knee. Instead, my mom took me to Dakota Clinic of Chiropractic in West Fargo."

The sophomore did a 12-week knee program that focused on realigning and stabilizing both of her knees. During that program, the sophomore went to Fargo two times a week.

"I had my knee adjusted, did red light therapy, did exercises and traction each visit," Stoterau said. "In between those visits, I did a daily home program, morning and night, for strengthening."

Stoterau couldn't compete in any events during her freshman year. In her sophomore year, she competed in a bar routine without a dismount, and toward the end of the season, she was able to add a dismount into her routine. Even with her limitations, Stoterau was able to qualify for the state meet in bars. This year the junior is competing on beam and bars with no limitations on either event.

"She hasn't competed on the beam since the state meet her eighth grade year where she actually placed seventh," Carlson said. "I can't wait to see what she is capable of this season now that she is mostly healthy. She is one of those kids that will take turn after turn until she gets it right and is always willing to try a new idea I throw at her."

Following her sophomore season, Stoterau decided to join the Jamestown High School diving team to help prepare her for another go around with gymnastics.

"She was able to qualify for state as a first-year diver," Carlson said. "I think her joining diving was a great way to ease back into jumping and flipping without her knees having to take so much of the impact. It seems like her confidence from that is shining through into her gymnastics."

In the two beam routines Stoterau has performed this year, she has notched scores of 8.500 and 8.800. Her 8.500 performance in Aberdeen, South Dakota, won her the first beam title of her junior season. As of Dec. 11, Stoterau's beam score average is 8.650 which is .350 back of an automatic state meet qualifying berth.

The junior's uneven bars scores are a little bit lower than those on beam but she is still scoring in the low 8s. On Nov. 30, Stoterau swung herself to an 8.150 performance while on Dec. 2 she ended up scoring .050 better for an 8.200. Her bar average sits at 8.175.

"My main goals this season are to place at State and to keep strengthening my knees," Stoterau said. "I am not back to where I want to be, but I am improving every day."