Erin Slettvet overcame a nagging obstacle to help Oklahoma City University win the NAIA softball championship last year.
In April, Slettvet tore the cartilage in the back of her kneecap. Catching every game for the Stars last year caused Slettvet’s cartilage to tear.
She wanted to still be able to help her teammates for the rest of the season. For her to be able to continue playing she received cortisone shots in her knee.
“The next morning, my knee was so swollen I was unable to bend it,” said Slettvet. “The doctors say the cartilage must have completely torn the night before.”
Slettvet, a junior catcher from Long Beach, Calif., led the Stars to an 8-0 week, batting .556 (15-for-27) with seven runs, four home runs and 15 runs batted in. She slugged 1.000 for the week.
For the season, Slettvet is hitting .361 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs. She is this week’s Super Star of the Week.
In September, Slettvet underwent knee surgery to repair the cartilage at the back of her kneecap. This caused her to miss all of the fall season.
“I still have good and bad days,” said Slettvet. “I am in the training room every day for treatment and have pool exercises every morning before school to help my knee. It’s hard on my knee to catch every game, but Mindy Crabaugh has been a huge help stepping in and relieving me.”
The team is on a roll, moving into the first place position in the Sooner Athletic Conference and moved from 12th to fifth place in the NAIA national rankings.
“We are beating all the right people. We had a bad start, but now our team is meshing well. Coach always says we didn’t peak too early, and that’s key to him,” said Slettvet.
With just three games left before the conference tournament, the softball team is right where they need to be.
“Winning every game will just help us in the long run,” said Slettvet. “We have already won all the important ones. We need to stay at least ranked fifth in the nation in case something happens at regionals.”
More on Erin:
My hero: My mom and dad
My goal this year: To win another national championship
Favorite sports movie: Bull Durham
Person I most want to meet: Hank Aaron
My pregame ritual: Handshake with Brittani Ellis
