Jolie Sertorio’s Strong Return: From ACL injury to Thundersticks' Finals push

As the Perth Thundersticks Women’s team gears up for its third Liberty Hockey One finals berth in as many years, Jolie Sertorio will look to continue making the most of every opportunity to showcase her prowess.

While the Perth Thundersticks have put up a dominant front throughout the competition so far, this year has brought on the return of Sertorio after returning from an ACL rupture that kept her out of the 2023 season.

The rupture occurred during a round match in WA’s Premier League competition with the Suburban Lions.

“It is a feeling like no other,” Sertorio said.

However, as devastating as an ACL rupture can be for an athlete, it was not the first time that Sertorio had experienced it.

“I did my first ACL when I was just 17 years old in 2019 at a National Junior Squad competition in Canberra,” she said.

“The injury itself happened in a very innocuous way, and I wasn’t in much pain at all.

“Over the proceeding days, I got a scan to see if anything was wrong, but the staff were getting me ready to play in the upcoming game as my knee was feeling pretty good.

“I remember on the day, the coach called me to come meet him and as I walked into the meeting room, I saw my mum and dad there and was told I had ruptured my ACL and done a bunch of other damage.

“I remember being in shock and not really believing it until I went into surgery a couple of weeks later.”

During the lengthy recovery and rehabilitation process, Sertorio found some comfort in her family’s pet cat.

“Funnily enough, a few months later our family cat did its ACL too which I found quite comical,” she said.

“The cat was absolutely fine but over my 14-month rehab, there were definitely a few laughs and jokes made with my family.”

Going into the ACL recovery process for the first time as a teenager, Sertorio believed she would be out for nine months and easily transition back into hockey.

“My experience was extremely different,” she said.

“My rehab took 14 months and in my first year returning, I underwent two separate surgeries and rehabs for recurring meniscal tears.

“Then under a year later I did my second ACL and underwent another 13 months of rehab and tore my calf and hamstring at the backend of that rehab, so it turned into over 4 years of recurring injury, rehab and time away from hockey.

“There were times when I didn’t recognise myself physically and emotionally and this had a significant impact on my relationships.

“It took me a long time and a lot of work to improve my own wellbeing and then reconnect with those around me.

“Overcoming this taught me a lot about myself and I am forever grateful for my family and friends who stuck by me during these times.”

When Sertorio was finally cleared to return to the turf earlier this year with the Suburban Lions, she was incredibly grateful to her teammates and coaches for their long-standing support.

“Playing a first game back after a lengthy rehab is always an exciting but really nerve-wracking experience,” she said.

“I feel really lucky to have played my first game back with my club team as they have been there for me over the years throughout all my injuries.

“All the girls in the team welcomed me back like no time had passed and made me feel supported and confident for my first game back.

“It was probably the most fun that I had in a really long time, and I thank the Suburban Lions crew for that.”