Madonna grad Melnyk working hard to return for FUS

STEUBENVILLE -- This was supposed to be Jazzy Melnyk's year.

The former Madonna all-stater had started every game of the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Franciscan University

She led the Barons in rebounding as a freshman and again as a sophomore, along with top marks in scoring (12 ppg), minutes (33.6) and assists (3.1).

Melnyk figured largely in the Barons plan for 2023-24; that is, until, the second day of practice.

One wrong move and a whole season of promise went down the drain.

"It was our second practice, I pivoted and my knee completely gave out," Melnyk recalled, now 12 weeks post-op from her second major knee surgery in her athletic career. "I ended up tearing my ACL, MCL and meniscus."

The road to recovery from major knee surgery is a difficult one for any athlete. In a roundabout way, it is fortunate for Melnyk this isn't her first trek down that difficult path.

During Melynk's freshman year of high school, she tore the ACL in her opposite knee. While the injury didn't rock the young freshman to her core, it did reinforce the need to give it her all, not only in recovery, but in her physical training and conditioning going forward.

Anyone who knows Jazzy now knows she's a gym rat, a fitness junkie.

She readily admits that wasn't always the case.

"When I tore my ACL my freshman year, that got me into the gym," she admitted. "That got me into the weight room consistently. Before, I would go off and on, but once I tore it, it motivated me to get stronger overall, and not just for my knee.

"I found a passion with lifting."

Melnyk has faced taller players, faster ones, and those with more natural ability. But you'd be hard pressed to find any who will outwork her in the weight room.

She works out and offers her expertise and experience in training others out of Quick Fit gym in Weirton.

Her fitness level helped speed along her recovery, as does her desire to get back out onto the court--and into the gym.

Knowing what it takes to make that return is helping her both physically, and mentally.

"It's been a lot better knowing what to expect and having the work ethic to do it," Melnyk said. "My physical therapist is the best in the area, and that motivates me, my teammates motivate me, my parents--my recovery has been a lot better this time around.

"Maturing and being older has helped too."

Melnyk is itching to return to full go inside the weight room.

She still can't perform weighted lower-body lifts so close to her surgery, but that's not stopped Melnyk from returning to training other areas of her body.

"I'm still easing into non-weighted squats," Melnyk said. "I can't do any heavy lifting until probably into the sixth month post surgery. But I have been doing heavy upper body lifts."

She dropped nearly 20 pounds in muscle while in the preliminary stages of her recovery.

Taking advantage of a medical redshirt will allow her another season of eligibility to play for the Barons. She plans to make it count, along with the extra year in the Franciscan classrooms.

Originally an education major, Melnyk eventually discovered that her future endeavors were in the business world. The added year of schooling will allow her to obtain her masters in business administration (MBA).

Her work in personal training opened her eyes to the world of business and potential opportunities. Whether her future plans include training or not remains to be seen, but she admits it's an option.

For now, Melnyk will continue to do what she always does -- put in the work and prepare for the next challenge.

"Things happen for a reason, but I came back stronger before and I know I can definitely come back stronger this time," she said. "For now, I'll continue to work and sit and watch my teammates, cheer them on and be supportive, and be (work) to be ready to play the game I love again."