[81alum]

Sorry--I originally posted this on the Toni Retires thread and then saw this thread started, so moved it here....

***

Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)

At about the same time that Oliver suffered her concussion, Kokenis took an elbow to the head in a campus pickup game against a team of men. Although not as bad off as Oliver, she didn't go to class for three weeks. When she did, she often wore sunglasses indoors because of her sensitivity to light.  "The mood swings were a big thing," she said. "Those were awful."  She tried to study for a midterm in human biology but couldn't do it.

She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.

I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were.  Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate.  Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game.  I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.

All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.

Good luck, Toni!

[81alum]

Sorry--I originally posted this on the Toni Retires thread and then saw this thread started, so moved it here....

***

Tom Fitzgerald's story in the Chron (also referenced elsewhere on this board) finally tells the full story behind Toni's retirement, and it sounds absolutely dreadful for Toni (and Emily Oliver, our soccer goalie who also retired due to concussions.)

At about the same time that Oliver suffered her concussion, Kokenis took an elbow to the head in a campus pickup game against a team of men. Although not as bad off as Oliver, she didn't go to class for three weeks. When she did, she often wore sunglasses indoors because of her sensitivity to light.  "The mood swings were a big thing," she said. "Those were awful."  She tried to study for a midterm in human biology but couldn't do it.

She and Emily each had four concussions, apparently.

I am not sure that fans ever realized how serious these concussions were.  Weeks of light sensitivity, mood swings, inability to concentrate.  Messing with the brain in that way is not worth a game.  I know it was hard for Toni to make this decision, but after hearing the details I think we can all agree it was the right decision to make.

All that doesn't change the fact that we will all miss seeing her play.

Good luck, Toni!