It’s not often a player with no chance to make it on the field becomes the heart and soul of a team.
LSU senior outfielder Katie Guillory did just that after suffering a season-ending knee injury prior to this season.
The Lafayette native collided with another outfielder while fielding a fly ball in February, tearing her right ACL and meniscus.
“I tried to avoid it, but my body went one way and my knee went the other,” Guillory said. “I instantly knew exactly what happened. I’ve been there once before.”
Last season, Guillory tore her left ACL, forcing her to miss the first two months of the season.
“This time, it hurt really bad so I knew it was something super serious,” Guillory said.
The injury forced Guillory to miss the entire season, but her teammates and coaches said she’s no less important than the Tigers’ everyday players.
“She’s a huge part of this team’s camaraderie,” said senior shortstop Juliana Santos. “She’s the one that you go to when you need someone to lift you up.”
Guillory is in the dugout for every LSU home game, and LSU coach Beth Torina said the team misses her when on the road.
“Not being able to travel with Katie Guillory really effects our team because she’s such a spark for us,” Torina said. “To be able to do that off the bench is pretty amazing. Big credit to her.”
Guillory said her role on the team is to keep everybody energized and mentor the younger players.
“I’m here to pump everybody up and to help the fire burn in their hearts,” Guillory said.
Santos, who has also dealt with a host of maladies of her own, said nagging injuries are tough, but Guillory is strong enough to persevere.
“You expect 100 percent out of yourself and sometimes you can’t give it, and that’s when the mental game becomes the biggest part of it,” Santos said. “You really have to be mentally tough to handle it, and Guill is one of the most mentally tough people I’ve ever met.”
Guillory’s personality shines through at every home game during the Tigers’ ‘Who Wants To Be A Guillionare’ promotion, when she poses a question to a fan in exchange for a prize.
“She takes control and the whole park is mesmerized by her personality,” Santos said. “That’s Guill all the way. She’s super outgoing and makes everybody smile.”
Guillory said she looks forward to the promotion, despite fighting nerves the first time she did it.
“It’s fun for the fans, it’s fun for me and it’s great to get to know new people,” Guillory said.
Despite being a senior, Guillory will return to the Tigers next season after redshirting and said she’ll maintain her leadership role.
“I’ll try to be the best next year on the field, but above all else I love to be a leader off the field as well,” Guillory said.
Torina said Guillory will return with the knowledge and guidance required of a team captain.
“They know they can count on her to be there for them to push them to be their best,” Torina said.
 
 
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Contact Scott Branson at [email protected]