Division Avenue homecoming queen nominees nurse ACL tears

When Division Avenue High School senior and homecoming queen nominee Brynn McLaughlin stumbled during the third varsity volleyball game of the season, she knew it was an injury that would keep her out for a while.

It turned out to be a torn ACL, requiring surgery followed by rehabilitation for the next six months.

McLaughlin wasn't going to let the injury completely ruin the fun of senior year, so when her surgery to repair her torn ACL was scheduled on the same day as homecoming, she insisted that it be postponed.

"I wanted to come [to homecoming] because I knew I lost volleyball, and I wanted to make sure I was here to have fun on this day," McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin's teammate and fellow homecoming queen nominee, Jessica Fressle, suffered the same injury playing basketball in a tournament over the summer in Washington. She has already had surgery and is currently going through rehabilitation, which will keep her sidelined for the volleyball season.

Like McLaughin, Fressle insisted on attending Saturday's festivities and standing on the field with the homecoming court, despite her injury.

"It's great to be recognized for what we do both for the class and on the court," Fressle said.

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: High school homecomings across LI

Although she will miss out on her last volleyball season at Division Avenue High School, Fressle plans on returning to the basketball court in the spring. She has played on the varsity basketball team since her freshman year, and she's committed to attending Southern Connecticut University on a basketball scholarship next year.

Both girls enjoyed all of Saturday's homecoming festivities, which included a parade through Levittown and a crowning ceremony during the football game's halftime show, in which James Lunetta and Sophia Defranco were named king and queen.

"I'm really looking forward to senior year," Fressle said, "and this [homecoming] is a great way to kick off the year."