Simarah McPherson – December 2022 Athlete of the Month
Simarah McPherson, 18 of Stoughton, first arrived at Elite in the spring of 2021 following a severe ankle injury and follow-up surgeries. Looking for a Physical Therapy clinic that specialized in working with athletes, Simarah came to Elite with the hopes of one day making a full recovery and returning to her sports of cheerleading, track and field, and Acro and Tumbling. While at Elite, she’s worked closely with Elite Physical Therapist, Emily Boehm, PT, DPT, CSCS, and has made amazing progress! As Simarah tell us, “I started off at Elite not being able to do a single calf raise. And now I’m so close to making a full return to tumbling…My physical therapist inspired me to not give up and continue until I make a full recovery.”
In fact, Simarah has made such outstanding progress that she will be attending the University of Oregon next year as a member of their Division 1 Acro & Tumbling team! Simarah began cheerleading at an early age and has competed at the Cheerleading World Championships six times, been selected to the 3x Nfinity Generation Next (top 50 cheerleaders in the world under the age of 13), and is also the captain of the Track & Field team at Stoughton High School.
When asked what defines a true athlete, Simarah tells us, “a true athlete is someone who doesn’t let their mistakes and setbacks define them.
A true athlete is able to carry themselves with confidence while also knowing what needs improvement.” As for any advice she would give a younger athlete, she suggests, “Keep a level head, commit to excellence and strive to be the best athlete you can be. Always keep an eye on your goals!”
Simarah has definitely taken her own advice during her challenging rehab process here at Elite, which is a big reason why she’s made such incredible progress over the past year. When asked what she enjoys most about Elite, she tell us, “My favorite part about Elite is how welcoming the staff is and the connections you are able to make…When you walk in, you’re immediately motivated to get better. I would definitely recommend Elite because you will get the results you’re looking for while having a good time.”
Through her many years of competitive cheer, Simarah says she’s learned the importance of resilience and discipline. It’s clear she possesses these qualities in spades and why she’s seen such great results and progress in her physical therapy program. While Simarah looks forward to joining the Acro & Tumbling team at the University of Oregon next fall, her long-term goal is to one day become an anesthesiologist. From what we’ve seen from Simarah here at Elite, we have no doubt the sky’s the limit for this future Oregon Duck! Congratulations, Simarah, on earning our Elite Athlete of the Month honor for December, 2022!
Elite Sports Performance & Physical Therapy offers Sports Performance and Athlete Training programs at both our Foxboro and Stoughton locations. To learn more about our programs for athletes of all ages and sports and how YOU or an athlete in your family can become our NEXT Athlete of the Month, click HERE or email us at EliteSPC@EliteFitCenter.com!