Bayer’s Road Back Leads To Leadership Role

BOULDER – Injuries are part of sports. But that doesn't make them easy. Just ask redshirt sophomore Devon Bayer who missed most of the 2019 Colorado lacrosse season.

Mostly a defensive player as a freshman in 2018, she shifted to a more offensive role entering her sophomore year. She was playing on both ends of the field and even saw time in the draw circle.

"I was really excited to have that growing role," Bayer said. "I think I was just starting to get more confident in games when I got hurt, so that was a big reason I got upset. I felt that every game I was getting better."

Entering the fifth game of the season at Stanford on March 8, 2019, Bayer had recorded a pair of goals and four draw controls. Just over halfway through the first half, she had recorded three more draw controls as the Buffs held an 8-4 advantage in the Pac-12 Conference opener, as well as the 100^th game in CU lacrosse history.

Then it happened. The Buffs were on offense and Bayer was attacking. As she cut behind her defender, she shot and scored her third goal of the season. But as she did, she fell to the ground and it was clear to those watching that she was hurt. But Bayer had no idea about what was happening.

"It was a rainy, muggy day, so people tell me that I tweaked it because the grass level was messed up, but I kind of blacked out in the moment," she recalled. "I remember throwing my stick behind me and laying on the ground. I had no idea I scored. I think I shot it after I fell. In the moment I did not think I did anything that serious."

The Buffs were in the middle of a road trip that saw them recorded a 20-13 win against Stanford and a 17-11 victory against California. Bayer had to take it in from the sidelines, which was tough for someone who was used to being on the field most of the time.

It was about a month between when Bayer was hurt until she had surgery to begin her long journey back, which she could not have done without her teammates.

"Everyone was so inclusive," she said. "They would include me in things like watching film to make me feel better. There are a few people on the team who have had the same injury as me and they definitely helped me out and I leaned on them a lot for information and support in general."

As Bayer began to accept her new role on the team, she started to grow in a leadership role.

"It was cool to see the field in a different way when you are not playing," she said. "I tried to help out people when I would see things. I talked to a lot of the freshmen. I do think it changed me as a person and player in a good way."

Recovering from any injury takes time. Bayer was not able to start running until the summer and after that, she said it was "smaller, less visible steps." By the time the fall came around, she was ready to get going, but there was still physical therapy and extra work to put back in to get back to where she needed to be to compete.

She was finally cleared to compete the week before Colorado hosted Harvard in its season opener on February 21, which was a big advantage to the team.

"One of the greatest things about Devon is her competitiveness and how hard she plays all the time," CU head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "And not just in games, but in practice. Having her back now in a role where she is out there with everyone every day in drills has a huge impact on the intensity this team has. As she continues to find her way back and this team continues to find its way, she is going to have a huge role on the team and a great impact."

Bayer admitted in her first game back against Harvard that she was a little nervous, but in the following contest against Michigan, "my competitiveness kicked in and it felt freeing almost."

Asked about goals, she just said she wanted to take it one day at a time. "I'm trying to not make any goals and to be aggressive and help my team out in any way I can and in any position."

With the 2020 season cut short, Bayer played in four of CU's five games. She recorded her only goal of the season in CU's 19-8 win against Coastal Carolina on March 8, exactly one year from when she suffered her injury, proving she has come a long way in 366 days.

Players Mentioned

Devon Bayer

Related Videos