Career-ending injuries are something that have been prevalent in sports for as long as they’ve been around. 

That doesn’t make them any easier, and that wasn’t any different for Lizzie Bendixen who faced that reality after she tore her ACL right before her junior year of high school. 

Bendixen was someone who bled soccer, she had been on the pitch her entire life, falling in love with the game. 

So, when her livelihood was ripped away from her in an instance, she struggled.

“I was put in a position for the first time in my life where I couldn’t play soccer and it was heartbreaking,” Bendixen said. “My academics started slipping, I went from being a really good student to barely being able to get up in the morning.”

Sometimes athletes never get over that feeling of dread, but oftentimes, the lucky ones are able to find a different medium to channel that competitiveness. 

When one of Bendixen’s friends suggested she join the Highlands Ranch High School Esports team, while hesitant at first, she ultimately decided to give it a shot. 

“I was like ‘there's no way, there’s no way I’m going to join an esports team,’” Bendixen said. “But I did it, I kind of took a leap of faith. I needed something to pass the time and it just evolved into becoming the light of my life. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Esports became that medium for Bendixen, helping illuminate the darkness that Bendixen felt prior to finding her new love. Bendixen thought she found a new passion, a new realm to conquer, but what she failed to realize is the impact that esports would have on her.  

While esports has helped lift Bendixen's spirits, it started to become more than just a way to compete. It became a family, one that took her in immediately.

“Oh my god, the kid’s amazing,” said Dennis Sierra, one of Highlands Ranch's esports coaches. “She’s one of those kids that you hate to see graduate. You kind of sit there and you’re like ‘well, if she didn’t have a 3.9 GPA, maybe I could fail her in a class and keep her around another year.’ But no, she’s been fantastic, we love having her around and she’s been an absolute godsend to our program.”

Not only did esports help Bendixen find a new medium to channel her competitive spirit, but it helped her revive her exceptionality in the classroom. 

After only one year on the team, Bendixen earned the title as team manager. That's been where she's had the biggest impact and that's apparent on every single one of her teammates' faces, as each one lights up just at the mention of her name. 

“She came in and started playing Splatoon and then she took over for the manager last year, who had kind of took her under her wing,” Sierra said, who is also a CHSAA esports advisory committee member. “She joined the team and became our manager this year.

"She’s had a coach level of responsibility as a student. The kids really respond to her, they respect her a lot and love her.”

When a new player joins a team, it's not always immediately a perfect fit. In fact, team chemistry oftentimes takes quite a long time to develop, and that's having that coach like presence in an athlete becomes invaluable. Especially when she is able to help bring a team so close together.

“Honestly, just meeting everyone in the program and being adopted by all these people has been so great,” Bendixen said. “These kind, caring, compassionate and really determined people have really build a community around esports.”

Finding that family has been huge for Bendexin, after all, joining the team is how she found her best friend. From talking strategy to just hanging out and grabbing coffee, Emily McMahon and Bendixen have pushed each other to grow. 

Both McMahon and Bendixen joined the team around the same time. After Bendixen started talking to McMahon more and more, they started to become closer. McMahon recalled Bendixen helping her to be more outward with the team, something that has led to some special memories.

“Probably last summer,” McMahon said. “It was her and our whole team, we finally managed to get free and hang out and I just remember all of us sitting in her car, she bought me a coffee and I remember it was sunny and she was blasting music. I just remember thinking ‘this is the happiest I’ve been in so long, I am so happy I joined this team.’”

For as much as the team loves Bendixen, she loves them just as much. 

Diamonds are created from extreme conditions and that's how Bendixen found her gem.

"I think there's a lot of misconceptions about esports; what it is and the people that play." Bendixen said. "Really when people can open their eyes and see how open and welcoming this community can be, especially coming from someone who does traditional athletics, it's really great. So, just give it a shot if you have any interest in gaming, whatsoever.

"I also have to say thank you to our wonderful coaches. Thank you for adopting me into a program where I can grow and become a better person and a better player."