Alex Wilkinson: Tenacity of a Tiger in the Face of 3 ACL Surgeries
October 31, 2024
Alex Wilkinson is a born winner — with the tenacity of a tiger. Despite multiple injuries, athletic setbacks, mental health challenges and personal life heartaches, she stands today as a strong, confident woman, leading the way to victory for other athletes in crisis.
Setback after Setback
In 2012, Alex was a seventh-grade soccer player with speed, agility and lots of promise. Then she suffered an injury.
Alex recalls, "We were playing, and this girl kicked my knee, so it hyperextended. I was out for a week, suffering lots of swelling and pain, but I quickly returned to soccer."
In November 2014, during in her freshman year of high school, Alex was playing soccer when her knee suddenly gave out.
"I literally didn't know what was going on," Alex shares.
Alex's dad, a physical therapist, examined her knees and ligaments, which were naturally hypermobile, so he had trouble determining if something was amiss. To be extra cautious, he took Alex to Wake Orthopaedics where she met orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon Mark Wood, MD. He ordered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which confirmed she had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, and she underwent ACL reconstructive surgery at Raleigh Medical Park Capital City Surgery Center with Dr. Wood.
Alex remembers, "Dr. Wood was a kind and capable surgeon."
Her dad, whom she dubs her number one supporter, helped Alex rehabilitate after surgery, and within months, she returned to track and eventually soccer — stronger than ever.
"A lot of players struggle with returning after injury. Many are never the same, but I came back better. I developed my muscles. I did a ton of lifting. I also focused on my agility and speed training. Once I finally got to play, I was super-fit and super-fast. In fact, the more I played, the better I became."
Alex was initially upset that the coaches moved her down a level after her injury, but it worked in her favor, giving her a lot of playing time and notice from college recruiters.
In March 2016, while a sophomore, Alex was on the soccer field dribbling the ball, when another player stepped into her knee, kicking it inward.
I broke down in the middle of the field and screamed. My friend who watched from the bench began to cry.
Alex heard a grinding pop and knew she'd suffered another ACL tear. It turned out to be a high-grade partial tear, which required surgery due to instability.
Alex says, "There is no blood flow to the ACL, so I had to undergo surgery because they can't heal like other ligaments."
Fearless and determined, Alex rehabbed and, again, returned to soccer.
"I was having a tough time in life, and soccer was my happy place. My parents were getting divorced, which was stressful, and I kept undergoing major surgeries. Plus, I was a young girl, suffering, like many other girls, with anxiety and depression. In fact, in college I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I wanted to play soccer so badly because I knew I was good enough to play Division 1. A lot of girls I played with went on to play in college and professionally. I was more athletic than many of them, but I kept getting injured. I loved being on the field, so constantly being taken off for injuries was hard. I was determined to get back out there no matter what."
In April 2017, Alex, in her junior year, was being recruited to play D1 soccer. As the best soccer header on the team, she was in the box preparing for a corner kick.
"I'd always line up with the player who took the corner kicks. We had played for years together and had a connection. She knew where I was. I saw her. Ready, I went up and as I was coming down, a player on the other team ran through the back of my leg."
Alex knew she had another significant knee injury. She had to find out if she needed another surgery.
Again, she underwent revision ACL reconstruction with Dr. Wood. This time, however, she realized she needed to make some changes in her athletic career — though she had been recruited for college soccer.
"After my surgery, I got a call from one of the college coaches, and he said, 'You are the number one recruit in your class. We want you.' This made me feel really good, but I told him, 'I can't play anymore. I can't do another surgery.'"
Undeterred, he told Alex that if she changed her mind, she had a spot on the team.
Alex says, "Reluctantly, I decided to let soccer go and turn toward track and field and cross country. I had done these sports during my ACL rehabilitation periods to help me prepare for soccer, and I felt I could do well committing to them for my senior year of high school."
A New Path Forward
Alex made all-conference for cross country. She went to regionals and state finals with her team. She also made all conference as a runner for track and field, making it to state finals and ultimately placing sixth out of 800 at the state championship in her senior year.
Excited, Alex began emailing schools requesting to play for their college track and field and cross-country teams. Her high school coach knew the North Carolina State University coach well, so her coach helped her become a walk on player entering her freshman year of college for cross country and track and field.
"Running is much more team-oriented than soccer, especially cross country because the team runs and wins together. Surprisingly, I felt a lot more part of the team when I started running. This differed from the highly competitive nature of soccer where I moved up from recreational to classic, and then I went from the bottom team to the top team in a matter of three years."
Alex also liked that running required more mental prowess, which helped her navigate her mental health issues.
"Running is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical."
Because she did not earn a scholarship for college sports, Alex had to work to help fund her education. Soon, she had to transition away from college sports and began training for half marathons. Then, she faced another setback when she was hit by a vehicle while she was training for her upcoming event. Determined to stick with half marathons despite this challenge, she recovered and began training again within a little over two months.
"I trained for my first half marathon with my dad's help. In March 2022, I placed first in my age group and sixth overall female."
Alex, continued doing half marathons and soon graduated from North Carolina State University, landing a job as a news reporter. She missed sports, so she began volunteer coaching for a nearby school. She then started an Instagram account where she shared her experience and expertise on athletic training. It became wildly successful, and she began offering coaching sessions.
"I do run coaching, strength training and nutrition coaching. I love to see my clients get better. I enjoy helping women get back to good health, especially when they have pressed their bodies to the point that they've impacted their natural hormones."
Reflections on a Healthy Comeback
Today, Alex credits Dr. Wood for helping her continually return to sports.
"Dr. Wood was huge in my surgeries and recoveries. He was a big part of why I was able to get back, be better and still be able to compete at a high level to this day. Now I'm doing triathlons. In fact, in September 2024, I placed ninth overall at USA Triathlon Age Group Nationals, so I may have an opportunity to participate at the World Championships in Australia October 2025. Dr. Wood was the first step in each of those injuries in getting back and getting better."
Dr. Wood remarks, "For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of knowing Alex and her family and helping Alex through multiple injuries and successful return to high level sports. Her story exemplifies grit, resilience and tenacity and serves as an example for young athletes who are facing sports and mental health and well-being challenges. This journey has made her stronger, and it is great to see her thriving and being a resource for young female athletes."
Reflecting on her mental health struggles over the years, Alex shares, "I have been to therapy, and today I am thriving — despite living with bipolar disorder and PTSD. I feel I can help inspire other people to wake up another day, go for a run, go to the gym or just have hope that life will get better."
About Mark Wood, MD
Dr. Mark Wood is a board-certified orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon and a founding member of Wake Orthopaedics. His clinical interest include the diagnosis and treatment of knee and shoulder injuries and disorders, with specialty interest in arthroscopic surgery related to rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability and minimally invasive knee procedures such as ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Complementing his clinical interests and specialties, Dr. Wood has expertise in youth sports overuse, ACL injury prevention and safe return to sports.
Dr. Wood has been taking care of high school, collegiate and professional athletes for over 20 years. With his unbending dedication to his patients and community, Dr. Wood believes that providing patient education and involving the patient in the treatment plan are critical to expectations and outcomes. His health library was created for patient education, which provides videos, information, resources and online printable material to help make decision-making, treatment and recovery as quick and pain-free as possible.
Dr. Wood serves on a number of community sports associations, providing sports medicine services and guidance for: North Carolina FC Youth (medical director); Trinity Academy (sports medicine physician); Grace Christian School (sports medicine physician); St. David's School (sports medicine physician); and Swing Racquet and Paddle (chief medical officer). He was honored to be selected to serve as the venue medical director for the CONCACAF Women's Soccer World Cup qualifier tournament featuring the 2019 US Women's National Team enroute to their 4th World Cup Championship and the 2024 USL women's national championship.
He is also appointed as a UNC Orthopaedics Adjunct Clinical Professor for medical education and a Campbell University Medical School Research Scholars Program mentor for his research surrounding ACL injuries in youth athletes. Dr. Wood has presented his research at the local, regional and national levels and has multiple publications in the medical literature.
In his free time, Dr. Wood enjoys tennis, boating, fishing, snow skiing, traveling and cheering for his family's athletic events.
About Wake Orthopaedics
For over two decades, Wake Orthopaedics has been serving the Triangle community with comprehensive orthopaedic care dedicated to help patients regain their mobility and restore their quality of life. With specialties and expertise in conditions of the bones, muscles and joints, our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists utilize progressive treatments and state-of-the-art technology to care for everything from shoulder injuries and fractures to ACL injuries and arthritis. In addition to traditional orthopaedic services, Wake Orthopaedics provides Orthopaedic Urgent Care access on nights and weekends, physical and occupational rehabilitation services and sports injury prevention. Wake Orthopaedics is a WakeMed Physician Practice.