Junior multi-sport athlete Cole Portell suffered a season ending knee injury which also caused him to miss out on multiple seasons following during his sophomore year of the 2024-2025 basketball season. During Portell’s sophomore year, he participated in PHS basketball and had planned to contribute a big role to the varsity baseball team, but his experience was cut short due to the injury he had sustained. Every day since the injury, Portell has been working and fighting to play out on the field and court just like he did before.
On February 14, 2025, the PHS basketball team traveled to West County to face the Bulldogs. During the game, Portell sustained a non-contact knee injury and exited the game with apparent and excruciating pain. In the moment of the injury, Portell describes it as an immediate sense of knowing something really bad had happened and the thought of going to have to miss out was the first thing that popped in his head. Portell was evaluated immediately after his injury had occurred and was informed that he had sustained a broken knee cap and would undergo many procedures as soon as possible. Portell emphasized that after he found out what exactly had happened, he knew he was going to have a long journey ahead of him.
Portell’s head basketball coach during the time of the injury, Coach Franklin, describes him as a good leader and someone who is always willing to be the one person on the team that motivated others to go harder. Franklin said, “As soon as I learned about the extent of Cole’s injury I thought about how determined he was. I know that Cole does not quit just because and I have confidence that he will do whatever it takes to get back out there.”
From the moment Portell started his Potosi High School baseball debut, he was a huge asset and piece of the team. Portell managed to secure a varsity starting spot his freshman year and has attained it ever since. PHS head baseball coach, coach McRaven said “Cole is a terrific center fielder, one of the best I’ve ever seen. He can honestly do it all and without him it wasn’t easy because Cole contributes to every asset of the game. Seeing him now getting sessions in the batting cage I’m very hopeful that he can keep making progress.”
Portell is staying hopeful as well, explaining that he has gained motivation through this whole process by being able to watch his teammates play and imagine how his goal is to get back out there and come back stronger. Portell said, “I think throughout my recovery it has made me realize how big of a role sports plays in my life and how much I especially love baseball and want to get back. I really hope that at some point when I get back that I can be a part of winning a district championship with my team and make it to state. As long as we can do something like that, I could care less about my individual goals.”
Since the injury Portell has undergone many procedures and visited many doctors to hopefully recover in enough time to be playing on the PHS baseball team this spring.
Coach McRaven said, “Although it was a devastating blow for Cole, his family, and his sports teams, he was the one kid I knew that an injury like this could happen to and he would battle, fight, and do everything he could to not only get back to where he was but even better. It was hard to process for a lot of people at the time including me but I knew he could do it.”
Portell says that his injury has taught him a lot of things especially to appreciate the other things that come with life outside of sports. Portell said, “Don’t forget to take time and appreciate the simple things like your family and the things they do for you. It’s important to appreciate these things and the things that make you happy because you never know when they could be taken from you.”
Portell’s family and coaches have done nothing but support him and stand by his side through his whole recovery process. Portell expresses hope for a full recovery and a goal to hopefully put on a PHS baseball jersey come season time.
