Bergren, Guerra part of senior night celebration

 For one night, Blake Bergren and Sabrina Guerra got to dress for a game and be on the bench with their teammates for last Tuesday’s Red Oak senior night home game versus St. Albert.

“Getting ready in the locker room, it felt like we were getting ready for a game until we had to put our braces and boots back on,” Bergren said after the game.

For Bergren and Guerra, it was their first time in Red Oak uniforms since suffering season-ending injuries over the last month.

“We both talked to each other like we wish it didn’t happen to each other, but we’re kind of glad that it did because it makes it a little bit easier having to sit on the bench,” Guerra said. “It makes it a lot easier for me to sit there with Blake right there next to me knowing I’m not all by myself.”

Red Oak girls basketball coach Dan Martinez said both Bergren and Guerra are family.

“It was great. They were kind of crazy on the bench, but I was glad to have them on the bench,” he said. “You want the girls around, you want them to stay as a big part of the team and they are a big part of the team, because of their leadership.”

Bergren’s season ended Dec. 20 at the Jennie Ed Mac Sports Shootout when she tore her ACL in her left knee during the game versus Bellevue East. The senior was averaging 11.7 points per game when she was injured.

Bergren had surgery on her ACL Jan. 2 and started physical therapy just days later, based on recommendations from the doctor.

“It’s crazy to believe how fast your muscle goes,” Bergren said. “The very first day, I could hardly lift my leg off the table by myself. It’s come a long ways though, a lot of ice bags and ibuprofen to keep the soreness down.”

Guerra injured her left ankle during the Jan. 10 game versus Shenandoah. Guerra was originally informed the injury was an ankle sprain and the injury was treated as such. 

The senior guard found out at a recent doctor visit that part of a bone in her ankle was fractured. Guerra said she was scheduled to have ankle surgery Monday.

“It’s tough; they’re tough they’re both competitors,” Martinez said. “I don’t even like to think about it because I know it’s really hard on them.”

Despite her high school career being over, Bergren will continue to play basketball in college. In November, Bergren signed a letter of intent to play Div. II basketball for Upper Iowa University in Fayette. 

“It was a huge relief at the time to just get the stress off my shoulders, but now that I look back, I’m very glad that I signed early,” Bergren said.

Bergren talked to her future coach, Carol Russell, the night of the injury. 

The ACL injury has been an issue for Upper Iowa as Russell informed Bergren to take the rehab seriously and she would be back in no time.

For Guerra, she intends to go to Morningside College for cheerleading.

Guerra was averaging 3.8 points per game in 10 games this season.

Red Oak is 4-3 since Guerra’s injury and 5-5 since the Bergren’s.

Both girls have used the opportunity to help out their teammates when possible.

“We are definitely these girls’ biggest cheerleaders. We come to every practice and every game,” Bergren said.

“And every bus ride,” Guerra added.

Both agree the bus rides have been getting better. Their first long one was for the Kuemper Catholic game Jan. 17 and it was a little rough.

“I’m just glad we don’t have anymore super long ones,” Bergren said.

The next long trip might be in a couple weeks. Should Red Oak advance in regionals, they could go to Denison for the regional final on Feb. 22.