Before the National Anthem.

Before the coin toss.

Before the opening kick.

Before anything else took place on top of Wolverine Mountain on Saturday, Sheffield welcomed back a fighter. They welcomed back a survivor. They welcomed back Alexa Whipple.

Times Observer photo by Cody Elms Sheffield Varsity Cheerleading Coach Melissa Bullock hugs Alexa Whipple Saturday as Lydia Snell holds a “Welcome Back Alexa” sign before the Wolverines’ Week 3 contest with Redbank Valley.

On Dec. 15, 2019, Alexa was a passenger in an automobile accident that took the life of her mother Jessica Camp and Stephen Rothrauff. Whipple was ejected from the vehicle upon impact, suffering serious injuries that resulted in the then 15-year-old to be airlifted to a Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. On Dec. 16, 2019, an uphill climb back to normalcy began.

Alexa spent five days in a coma, had a torn aorta, shattered pelvis, defusal axonal injury and a brain injury.

She made it through surgeries, CT scans, MRIs, X-Rays, ultrasounds, ups and downs, steps forward and steps backward, laughter and tears. While many of her friends and classmates went about their lives, she was forced to watch, to work and to wait. According to a recent post on Alexa’s Beast Mode Facebook page, which journaled her road to recovery, she highlighted the emotional strain of both wanting to be there beside friends as they competed in various sports and activities and also cheering them on as they did so.

“I had trouble walking at first,” said Alexa. “I tried walking without my hands on my bars for the first time and I passed out and I had to stay the night at the hospital. That was a big push that made me think I was never going to walk again. That just made me think I was going to get set back again.”

While recovering, Alexa was still as involved as she could be. Sheffield varsity cheerleading coach Melissa Bullock praised the young athlete for going to the away game the Wolverines had just a week ago to sit on the side, study the cheers, go through the motions in preparation for her long-awaited return.

“Even though she wasn’t part of the squad the last year and nine months,” Bullock said of Whipple’s official status, “she still stayed in contact with the squad. She’s still always been part of the squad.”

After one year, eight months and 17 days, Whipple received approval from her doctor to return to contact sports without restriction. Now, it was a matter of going through a standard physical like any other teenage athlete. The final approval came the Thursday just before this past Saturday’s game.

“Her and I had been in contact all summer,” said Bullock. “She kept telling me she was coming back … she was coming back. We knew she was having her surgery and she was like I’m going to get cleared after my surgery. And I was like I’m waiting. We’ll go when your doctor says you can go.”

This led to a prompt and well-coordinated plan being put into place by Bullock, Sheffield game-day PA announcer Chuck Demko and Candice Kyler.

Just minutes prior to kickoff, approximately 8 miles down the road from where her life changed course forever, on a partly sunny Saturday afternoon, at the northwest end zone of Sheffield’s football field with the Wolverine football team in the background and her cheerleading teammates across from her, Alexa Whipple was welcomed back.

Back as an active participant. Back as an athlete. Back where she belonged.

“I was really happy. Nervous … I don’t know,” said Whipple. “It just made me feel warm inside. I was shaking really bad and crying. There are definitely incredible people in this town. It’s crazy whenever you’re seeing it for other people and you’re like, ‘Oh that’s not huge,’ but then whenever it happens to you, you can see how big the support is.”

The community support began the night of the accident, as Candice Kyler was driving home and came upon the scene. As a registered radiologic technologist/mammographer, Kyler felt the necessity to stop and try to help, which she — to this day has no regrets about, despite the vividness of that cold December night.

“I attended to Alexa, who was conscious and talking,” said Kyler. “I kept her still, as she wanted to get up.”

Kyler described Alexa as so many others have — “strong.” And that she held a special place in her heart. Even though Kyler was unable to attend the game Saturday, she was represented in person by her husband, Chris, and she did send Alexa a message that was read by Chuck Demko to those in attendance:

“Alexa, I’m so proud of your hard work, determination, strength, and faith you have had and continue to have. Today, as you cheer for the Wolverines after a long, difficult road, remember your mom and Steve are looking down cheering you on. You’re a special young lady. Celebrate your accomplishment as you cheer with all your heart today. Enjoy! Love you, Candice.”

With so much behind her Whipple said she hopes to focus on getting back to doing what she loves most — sports, and, hopefully, an almost normal life again.