Graysen Rottman

A season-ending injury is, physically and mentally, a bitter pill for an athlete to swallow.

The adversity that struck Graysen Rottman is far worse.

Last summer, the current junior at Moniteau was diagnosed with Charcot foot, a condition that causes rapid bone weakening and joint dislocation, leading to deformation of the foot.

A baseball and softball player for a decade, Rottman was told that her athletic career was over.

Her doctors were surprised of the diagnosis in Rottman because it normally afflicts people dealing with diabetes or alcoholism with neuropathy, which causes numbness in a person’s hands or feet. Following a growth spurt three years ago, she contracted neuropathy, which was related to her being born with a degree of spina bifida.

“One doctor told me I’m the first person younger than 20 who he’s seen suffering from this,” Graysen said. “I’ve thought, ‘Why me?’ It is upsetting, but things happen and you just have to accept it.”

It was in October 2024 that Graysen landed awkwardly on her left foot while practicing for the school’s talent show.

An MRI revealed a Lisfranc fracture, but an ensuing surgery had Graysen believing the ordeal was behind her. A pitcher, she was cleared to play softball for the Warriors last spring while bouts of physical therapy continued.

“The swelling never left,” Graysen said. “I even wore a different size cleat because one foot was bigger than the other.”

Her father, Moniteau coach Bob Rottman, called for pitches that lessened the weight Graysen had to put on her left foot and she utilized a shorter stride. After the high school season, Graysen believed she would be 100% for her junior campaign.

But the bad news came in July. Bones were deteriorating and the foot was collapsing in on itself.

“When she was told that she was done with sports, she was devastated,” Bob Rottman said. “I could tell, just from her body language, she wanted to be out there.”

It put a halt to a very active lifestyle. Graysen was previously a cheerleader, member of the dance team and took part in the school musical.

Getting around now involves use of either crutches or a knee scooter. She still shows up at Moniteau softball’s practices and games.

“She can’t put any weight on that foot, but she supports the team as much as she can,” Bob said. “She talks with the pitchers about technique she learned over the years and helps them fix their mechanics if they need it.”

Being outside the white lines has been difficult for Graysen.

“I was in the seventh grade when I really got into pitching,” she said. “I loved challenging myself and fighting for a spot on my travel team.

“It’s really hard to watch my friends take the field without me.”

But she is determined to not let her condition define her.

“It’s escalated my drive to focus on academics,” Graysen said. “I want to be an attorney.”

Bob Rottman admires the resolve he still sees in his daughter.

“Graysen has always been a person who, when she puts her mind to something, she does what it takes to get it done,” he said. “She’s not able to go to school, we have a teacher come to the house twice a week to make sure she’s keeping up with homework and tests. She can’t hang out with her friends as much as she used to, but I think she’s handling it well. She’s a stronger person than I was at that age.”