Butcher: ‘Hardest decision I have ever had to make;’ stops volleyball
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By Mike Monahan
ATWOOD – In last week’s County Chronicle Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond graduate Savannah Butcher showed her excitement about continuing her volleyball career at Division III Millikin University saying, “It’s my wildest dream come true.” However, two days later Butcher elected not to play volleyball at all (medically retiring from volleyball) and decommitted from the Big Blue and the school. She will now attend Lake Land College and then transfer to Eastern Illinois University while majoring in elementary education with a middle grades ELA certification.
Butcher is experiencing severe pain in her neck and arm..
“This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make,” said Butcher, a second team all-Lincoln Prairie Conference player for coach Emily Crossman’s team that went 27-10 last fall and undefeated in the LPC, at 10-0. “It all started on the second day of my junior year in a car accident that caused whiplash issues and soft tissue damage. Since then, I have lived in pain every day in silence. I tried everything to keep playing. Every specialist, every treatment, every possible option. I pushed through two years of pain while being recruited, constantly telling myself and everyone around me that I was fine until I finally wasn’t. The pain has now progressed to numbness in my arm, and after everything, I realized I could not keep risking permanent damage for the rest of my life.”
In three seasons Butcher played in 228 sets and won teams that went a combined 58-42 (.580). She averaged 2.2 kills per set and had a total of 62 blocks and 73 digs.
“Volleyball was never just a sport to me,” said Butcher on her facebook. “ It was my identity, my greatest joy, and my safe place. I truly thought I still had four more years. More practices, more bus rides, more game days, more memories with teammates who became family. I had no idea my last game would be my last. Truthfully, I do not even know who I am outside of being a volleyball player.”
Butcher, the daughter of Charidy and Bryan Butcher, has been in love with the sport since the sixth grade.
“I am so grateful to Millikin for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream, even if only for a brief moment. I am thankful for every coach, teammate, friend, and person who made this game worth loving.”
Last week Butcher was attending a Millikin camp and started experiencing extreme pain down her right (hitting) arm and could not feel the ball when hitting it.
“While this chapter is ending much sooner than I ever imagined, a new one is beginning,” said Butcher. “My goal is to become the best teacher and volleyball coach I can be. I am not sharing this for pity. I just want people to cherish even the hard days doing what they love because one day it can all be gone in an instant. A part of my heart will always grieve the college volleyball career I thought I was going to have, but I pray I made those I love proud of me.”