Crop talks

At sixteen years old, Bryce Reynolds traveled to Chicago to play basketball. The 8-hour drive got him there to play with an AAU team. Things were smooth playing the game he loved until he got tangled up with another player. The ball of his femur came out of the hip socket, dislocating it. His femur partially went back in, but not enough for less damage. Reynolds thought, “Oh no,” and had no idea of the six months recovery. The journey he was now on was “grueling and needed to be taken one, small step at a time.”

Reynolds drove back home to Sioux City, Iowa with his mom after the tournament. After still having pain, he needed surgery since his hip was not fully back in place.

This was the summer before his sophomore year of high school at the beginning of July. Surgery was needed to reattach torn tendons, realign his hip, and shave off some bone to reduce further irritation. The six months started with surgery and two weeks at home in a wheelchair for his sixteen year old self.

Four months of crutches and rehab was the next step, teaching his leg to walk again. Once he could walk again, it was all about strength and mobility in his core and hips.

Reynolds said, “I hated to talk about it so I never really brought it up and kept everything to myself.”

During rehab, he learned life lessons about patience and having someone to talk to. He realized when turning to talk to family and close friends he could get through it. He could talk to them instead of keeping things pent up.

After recovering, Reynolds continued to play basketball and soccer at Bishop Heelan High School for the next three years.

He decided to play soccer at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. After preseason and the first part of regular season freshman year, Reynolds ran into some more medical issues. He decided to quit organized sports, after being in them for sixteen years.

With more free time, Reynolds is now the vice president of a fraternity, a tutor for math and chemistry, and a student ambassador. He recently added math as a third major, along with physics and chemistry.

He is still active and in shape after quitting soccer. Reynolds participates in multiple intramural sports and exercises five to six times a week. Intramurals include volleyball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and flag football. In the spring and summer, he golfs one to two times a week.

After the dislocated hip experience, he said, “It taught me that with hard work and determination most anything is achievable.”