Nursing a season-ending injury is every athlete’s worst nightmare. Moreover, suffering multiple ACL tears in two of the last three years is far more formidable than any player could ever imagine.

Following a stellar nine-game start to her senior campaign, established Lady Lion forward Kelly Jekot played her final season with a sizable chip on her shoulder.

After suffering a torn ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus in her right knee late in the 2018-19 season at Villanova, Jekot transferred to Penn State with intentions of leaving her injury-riddled past in the dark, despite holding a starting front-court spot on the Wildcats’ roster.

Jekot’s risk paid off, as the crafty forward led Carolyn Kieger’s young squad to an early, much-improved 4-5 record while averaging a team-high 15.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per outing. Her most impressive display came in the Lady Lions’ first conference victory of the season over Minnesota on January 10 when she totaled 15 points and eight rebounds.

More importantly, the veteran’s commanding leadership style carried the inexperienced program over the hump for its first Big Ten triumph in 366 days.

Little did Jekot know at the time, the mid-January matchup in Minneapolis would likely be her last in a collegiate uniform. Prior to Penn State’s home date with Northwestern a week later, the upperclassman experienced deja vu at the most unfavorable degree by tearing her left ACL during a routine practice drill.

Amid the devastation, Jekot has remained a positive influence as a player-coach on the sideline for Kieger and her blossoming program. Additionally, she has created a strong social media presence on TikTok by generating content to document her long, yet steady, recovery effort.

@kellyjekot

Follow me and my Tik Tok journal of my progress the next 9 months ?? Hype me up this is my second time #surgery #pennstate #basketball #fyp

♬ Celebrate the Good Times – Mason

Since her first post on February 12, Jekot has gained more than 750 followers and 109,000 views on just 11 TikTok videos. After undergoing surgery on the same day, Jekot has since posted about her previous injuries, as well as rehabilitation methods incorporated by herself and the Penn State training staff.

@kellyjekot

Can’t wait to see how far I’ve come #Day1 #physicaltherapy #acl #pennstate #motivation

♬ Uplifting Corporate – BlueWhaleMusic

Last week, Jekot put up another post, which included several encouraging signs of a smooth transition process. In little time following her procedure, she was able to bend her knee 80 degrees under her own power and complete body-weighted leg lifts.

If you would like to follow the entirety of Jekot’s recovery process, her TikTok can be found here, or on the platform’s application at @TwoFiveee.