HOST: For many student athletes a cancelled season and lockdown was a huge disappointment, but not for one two-sport athlete. Julia Cuttone took advantage of this down time to get a much needed hip surgery.
TRACK: I’m here with Julia Cuttone in the conference room of the Sports Information Department at Baruch College to chat about her love of sports, her recovery and more.
AMBI: Coaches cheer Julia on – C’mon Jules, you got it kid, keep going, get it get up! You got it Jules you’re at the end. Go Julia!
ACT: JULIA: All my life softball has been a huge part of my identity and where I felt most comfortable. So, when I found out that I was injured and I didn’t know if I would be able to play again, it was really scary. I just felt very lost.
TRACK: Months of physical therapy have passed, but the pain persisted. After her MRI she found out why.
ACT:JULIA: They found out that it was a torn labrum, I had bone spurs, a hip impingement.
TRACK: She decided the way things fell was a blessing in disguise.
ACT:JULIA: The reason why I got the surgery at the time I did was because our season was cancelled for softball and I was like, alright I’ll have a whole year to recover.
TRACK: Cuttone’s injury, surgery and recovery process changed her way of thinking.
ACT: JULIA: There’s just fear and doubt that maybe I won’t be the same player that I was before. Even though post surgery I told myself I don’t want to be the same player I was. I want to work on different goals.
TRACK: Softball, pitching specifically, caused Cuttones injury. Pitching this way for so long, with such force, eventually caused the tear.
ACT:JULIA: Once I kind of got that strength back and I was able to understand the right way of throwing. The problem is fixed and everything’s corrected now.
TRACK: Surgery and recovery was made more difficult than usual due to Covid-19 protocol.
ACT:JULIA: Honestly, getting the surgery was a big fear of mine, since I never had any kind of surgery before. The fact I wasn’t able to go in with my parents or family was really tough too.
TRACK: New protocols took away things that usually comfort her.
ACT:JULIA: I actually took on counseling and that helped me alot with trying to get over the fear of going under anesthesia or fear that I won’t be able to go back to the sport.
TRACK: Assistant Athletic Director, Carrie Thomas, shared some kind words about Cuttone.
ACT:CARRIE: She’s a real go-getter, and doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants.
TRACK: Cuttone says Thomas really helped her through a slump of thinking she’d never play again.
ACT:CARRIE: She wants to be the best and to be the best you have to strive to be the best and put in the work, and that’s exactly what she does each and every day.
TRACK: She is appreciative of her teammates for being her biggest cheerleaders, that made this whole process easier. One teammate, Mircelis Paredes, shared her favorite part of being on a team with Cuttone.
ACT: MIRCELIS: Having Julia as a teammate is an absolute pleasure, I haven’t had a teammate so devoted. I really love her and appreciate her.
TRACK: She went with her gut, despite having doubts, and joined the Cross Country Team.
ACT:JULIA: It’s just a blessing because I have a coach that’s very supportive. She doesn’t treat me like I’m injured.
TRACK: She developed many methods of coping during her recovery process. Reading self-help books, practicing mindfulness, zoom classes, an internship and more.
ACT: JULIA: Even just interning in the Sports information department really helped me because I kind of used that as an outlet that I used to have for softball.
TRACK: Assistant Athletic Director, John Neves, leader of the sports information internship, mentioned Cuttone’s best attribute.
ACT:JOHN: I like working with people that work hard,cause then I know we’re going to get things done and Julia gets things done.
TRACK: This unusual down time for Cuttone was a time of growth and healing.
ACT:JULIA: I just found out who I was, I found my voice and I found out how to just listen to it.
TRACK: She has learned to take better care of her body.
ACT: JULIA: Honestly, I think I’m in the best shape I’ve even been in, endurance wise and strength wise.
TRACK: Cuttone has many goals.
ACT: JULIA: My biggest goal is to just be a voice for the team and make some marks, especially in pitching and hitting.
AMBI: Cross country team shouts, “ 1,2,3, Bearcats!”
TRACK: Cuttone was recently named CUNYAC Rookie of the Week on October 18th. She looks forward to the upcoming softball season. For Baruch College, this is Cristine Trimarco
Cristine Trimarco