WARSAW – Bad things sometimes happen to nice people. And after several years of dancing around some major injuries, Warsaw’s girls soccer program is facing a mighty climb before the 2017 season even begins.

Warsaw has seen its fair share of injured stars over the years, but the 2017 roster might be one of the most tattered heading into a campaign. Over a half dozen players were experiencing some kind of ailment heading into the final week of training camp, some worse than others. A trio of starters from the 2016 club have been sidelined for a good portion of the summer, and another has been slow to get moving.

Welcome to the high school ranks, Jon Hoover.

“They’ve worked so hard that I am constantly trying to put the brakes on them so they don’t rush back too soon,” said Hoover, entering his first season as head coach of the Warsaw program. “Every team says that they will get better and better as the season goes on, but I don’t think that comment can be more true of any other program than this one.

“Each player has their own plan. Their minutes will be closely monitored toward the beginning of the season with the hope of increasing those minutes to give them the best chance of success at the end.”

Three of Warsaw’s starting field players – seniors Sydney Wiedeman and Alex Koontz as well as junior Anna Sullivan – plus senior goalkeeper Chloe Snow, all have dealt with offseason nightmares. Koontz likely has had the worst of it, breaking her left knee cap three separate times, requiring enough surgery for an NFL offensive lineman to shake his head. The final straw, coming against a nationally ranked Penn squad last fall, forced the versatile defensive back under the knife and into a whole different world.

“Counseling helps!,” offered Koontz, taking a break from practice earlier in the week. “Teammates, coaches, three separate therapy places. I’ve had a lot of people helping me get back on the field.

“I’ve had to take breaks on and off because my knee just can’t take the stress like it used to a year and a half ago. I’m not the same player I was back then, and that’s just reality now. Transitioning now, instead of making that 50-yard run, can I look and find a player closer who is open so I don’t have to stress my legs as much.”

Wiedeman is also working through a major knee injury she suffered during the travel season, also to her left leg. The speedy wing went down in the spring, and is hoping to make enough of a recovery to salvage the end of her senior season. She hopes Senior Night in September, but ambition would be begging for a chance to get into the postseason in October.

“I’m not going to lie, this really sucks,” Wiedeman said watching from the sidelines at practice. When the opportunity arose, she peppered in balls from the touch line to live practice and stayed loose with touch drills with some of the inactive. “I couldn’t think of a worse time to get hurt than before senior year, but I can’t do anything about it other than keep working hard to get back out there. I’ve done whatever I can to make sure I’m ready if my knee will let me get back out there. I’m spending a lot of time working on cardio and strength training.”

Sullivan, a strong on-the-ball midfielder, is also coming back from offseason knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus and ACL. Her procedure was done in February, which puts Sullivan on the tentative timetable to be ready for the first month of the season, but she has tread lightly in preseason work as well.

“I would consider myself a little impatient when it comes to injuries because I miss playing and see my teammates out there. I just want to be out there,” Sullivan said. “My doctor cleared me to play against Fort Wayne Carroll. I know I am ready and have been working on it every day.

“I think right now I am at a good place. I will stop myself if I can tell things aren’t right.”

Snow, who is in line to challenge for the No. 1 goalkeeper position, struggled through an injured hip in the preseason, but looks to be back between the pipes to start the year. Hoover noted several of the minor injuries to other players shouldn’t hinder the starting lineup heading into the season opener Monday at Carroll.

Wiedeman’s scoring hit would be the biggest strike to the Tiger offense, who had 10 goals and four assists last season. Sullivan had a goal and an assist in her injury-riddled sophomore season and Koontz didn’t register a point, but was a vital cog in the defensive wheel. Snow played in 15 games in net, figuring in seven shutouts and 12 wins for a Warsaw squad that was 16-5 overall and a regional participant before bowing out to eventual state champion Penn.

Warsaw’s losses, however, might be gains on what is still a very loaded and capable roster. The top two leading scorers from last year, sophomores Delaney Taylor (19 goals, 14 assists) and Abby Steffensmeier (15/8) shore up the attack while classmate Brenna Buhrt (9/9) and senior Brenna Shipley (1/7) provide the support. The defense, with or without Koontz, will still be stout with Snow between the pipes and juniors Olivia Herman and Dayle Harvey both patrolling the back third.