HIGH POINT, N.C. — Some days were better than others.
 
It was to be expected as Skyler Prillaman Shults rehabbed through a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) she suffered during the 2022 High Point University women's soccer season.
 
But the good days outweighed the bad ones. The people around her constantly reminded her she would make it through. More importantly, Skyler knew it was God's plan.
 
"When I got the results, I had a lot going through my mind," she said. "There were so many questions that came with the news. Through it all, those around me lifted me up, encouraged me, and supported me. The overwhelming thought that came time and time again was that everything would be ok, and that God loved me."
 
Skyler's intuition was spot on as she leaned on her faith and her loved ones to make a complete, nine-month recovery to play for the Panthers again.
 
Not only has she laced up her boots for HPU this season, making her debut on September 23 versus Winthrop, but she has started and made key contributions through eight games to put HPU back in the Big South Conference Tournament today against USC Upstate at 7 p.m.
 
"I was so excited and nervous at the same time," Skyler said. "I knew that my family, coaches, and teammates believed in me when I stepped on the field and heard the roar throughout Vert Stadium. It was so surreal and even though my minutes were limited as I was coming back, I knew that my teammates believed in me and that all my hard work had paid off.
 
"It was a huge relief in knowing that I DID IT."  
 
Decisions
 
Soccer has always been around Skyler.
 
She remembers as a kid watching her brother, Lucas Prillaman, and sister, Beth Terrier, play while cheering them on and dribbling around the sidelines.
 
The sport has followed her through life so when she was given the option to play a sixth year — due to a medical redshirt she gained her sophomore season — at the school she had fallen in love with, the native of Ridgeway, Va., didn't have to think twice about it.
 
"I knew that if I had the opportunity to continue my education and play soccer another year that it was something I wanted to do," Skyler said. "Staying at HPU was a very easy decision and transferring was never really a question. The coaches were supportive of me staying as I could be a leader both on and off the field and help the younger players understand our style of play. My teammates have become my best friends off the field, and I could not imagine my college career without these special people!"
 
The decision to return was made before she found out she had a major grade partially torn ACL — as well as meniscus damage — after leaving the Charleston Southern game early on Oct. 8, 2022.
 
So, making a full recovery was never a question; it was more of getting a grasp on the timeline and how soon she would be back.
 
To that point, Skyler had to be mindful of her surgery date as she was engaged and set to marry her now husband, Dan Shults, in December. She wanted to set herself up for success in the recovery process, so waiting could have presented a setback, but Skyler also wanted to be able to walk down the aisle for one of the most important days of her life.
 
The decisions mounted and emotions overtook her, but again, Skyler knew the future had already been planned. So, she trusted His plan and set her surgery five days after her wedding date on Dec. 10, 2022.

"The process of Skyler tearing her ACL was odd," her husband, Dan, said. "Prior to her fully tearing it, she had injured her knee in a previous game. So, the final injury felt like it was coming long before it actually happened. Along with this, we were in the final stages of planning our wedding. It's strange to say, but I think our marriage has been blessed through this injury. Right away, and I mean right away, five days after the wedding we were thrown into loving each other in sickness and health.

"Skyler is identified with Christ's work on the cross not with her performance on the field. We praise God for her career, we praise God for her recovery, and our hope is that others would come to know God as a result of all this."

Recovery Through Faith
 
The belief Skyler had through her rehabilitation process was inspiring.
 
With an a nine-month recovery window set into place, there wasn't much wiggle room with her final season of eligibility eight months away in August 2023.
 
Skyler knew what had to be done as she teamed up with HPU Athletic Trainer Christine Olert and Strength & Conditioning Coach Andrew Wentz to begin rehabbing and taking the steps needed to get back to full form.
 
"Skyler sacrificed a lot to be able to get back on the field," Olert said. "Her work ethic was unmatched through the entire rehabilitation process. She was a great patient to work with and was very motivated from the beginning and asking the questions she needed to continue to improve. I'm very proud for her to not only return but being able to make an impact both on and off the field. Seeing her happy and enjoying playing is the icing on the cake of a long-term rehab."
 
She embodied the sacrifice and determination to keep pushing even when the results weren't showing after the first couple of months. She manifested a type of passion and devoted mindset to stay on top of her fitness and recovery to not miss an appointment or workout.


 
So much that she was trying workouts Wentz had never seen a student-athlete rehabbing from an ACL injury do. The resiliency in her was gushing and bringing those around her to their fullest potential. Now moving forward, the ACL recovery workout Wentz will implement with his student-athletes will be based on what he and Skyler created during her recovery workouts.
 
"Skyler came in three times a week over summer, on top of rehab and work," Wentz said. "She is one of the hardest workers in any room, so when I had ideas, she wanted to try. Honestly, it was brutal but she crushed it. We did so much exploring and experimenting with movements and loading; it was so much fun for me as a coach and became impactful for all of my athletes as we found better ways to strengthen her.
 
"I'm grateful that she trusted me enough to do what we did together, and I cannot be prouder of her. To see her score her first goal after this was a highlight; a great reminder of why I got into this field and what I'd hoped I could accomplish."
 
Powered by her faith and those around her like Olert, Wentz, plus her parents CD and Emily Prillaman, and Dan among many others, Skyler knows the strength she developed was through each of them.
 
"So much time and effort has gone into this comeback," she said. "There is so much more put into this than just time on the field and in the weight room. Those around me kept my spirits up and motivated me. I was continuously encouraged by Christine, Andrew, and my husband Dan over the summer. Once preseason hit and everyone was on campus, my teammates SHOWERED love on me with their encouraging words and actions. So many people have helped me and supported me during this process, I cannot name everyone."
 
The Comeback
 
As season approached, Skyler began getting antsy.
 
Her teammates were on the field practicing while she was finishing up her final month of rehab and strengthening her knee with full sprints and running. She wanted to be out there training alongside her team, but knew she wasn't quite there yet.
 
One day, she was tasked with four miles around the track, which equaled to 16 laps, and as you could imagine, she wasn't overjoyed. Her teammate, Isabelle Lee, felt it and took it upon herself to lift her up.
 
"Each time I passed her around the track she would acknowledge me," Skyler said, "and encourage me with, 'You look good Sky,' and 'Mind over matter!" or "YOU GOT IT! LET'S GO!"
 
"She did this 16 times over the course of my workout. Sometimes as an injured athlete you can feel invisible or not part of the team. That day I felt my extreme value and LOVE from my teammates. It really is the small things that go the longest way."
 
It was a moment that helped Skyler the most through that final month of rehab. As her team started the regular season on August 17, she was there cheering on her teammates and lifting them up as if she was playing each minute.
 
"I've unfortunately seen a lot of ACL tears over the years, but no one took on this challenge like Skyler did," Lee said. "She was so positive and determined throughout the whole process and completely took on a "We over Me" attitude, which is a core value of our team culture."
 
Skyler's enthusiasm shifted onto the field as she was officially cleared to play on September 23 and it only went up from there as her minutes grew. On October 7 at Longwood, Skyler received her first start and played a season-high 65 minutes.
 
The anticipation rose more each start as she started the final four games of the season. On October 25 in a win-and-in game at UNC Asheville to wrap the regular season, Skyler saw her first goal swish through the net as well as her first assist to help the Panthers to a 2-0 win.
 
 "It meant the world to get those points on the board for my team," she said. "I have the desire to create opportunities and score every time I step on the field, as any forward does. It was such an awesome feeling; I can hardly describe it with words. I think my jumping reaction after netting the goal says it all."
 
Her first points back after injury earned her Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week and NCAA Division I Women's College United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week honors. It was a glimpse at the player Skyler has been throughout her career at HPU. 
 
"I'm very impressed with how Skyler has come back from such a serious injury," HPU Head Coach Aaron McGuiness said. "Not only has she prepared herself physically but mentally too and it has really paid off for her. I can't compliment her enough on this and she is hitting form at the right end of the season."

As a freshman, she was named the Big South Freshman of the Year and to the All-Freshman Team following a 17-point rookie season. Skyler only built on her career from there as she earned multiple Big South Player of the Week awards while garnering Big South First Team accolades.

In the Purple & White, she has played in 74 games with 64 starts while scoring 20 goals and registering 16 assists. 
 
Now, she heads back to the Big South Tournament to cap an unforgettable collegiate career. In 2021 versus Campbell, Skyler scored the game-winning goal in overtime en route to a Big South Championship as well as MVP honors. 

A day classified as one of the good ones.

"That game will go down as one of my top memories being a student-athlete at HPU," she said. "Having the opportunity to play for another championship means the world. It will no doubt be memorable as we chase after another ring!