Florida State freshman Danika Spinogatti has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for an elite softball player—all within one calendar year.

As a high school senior in 2025, she was named as a 1^st Team Line Drive High School All-American but then suffered a knee injury that has forced her to the dugout for her freshman year of college.

Danika is blogging for Line Drive this year detailing her rehab as she works hard to get back onto the field as soon as possible for the Seminoles.

Here are two previous articles Danika has penned for us sharing her thoughts on the challenges—physical, yes, but also emotional—this year:

• In Her Own Write: Florida State Freshman Danika Spinogatti… the Latest on Her ACL Rehab & Recovery (January 16, 2026)
• In Her Own Write Danika Spinogatti… From Youth Softball to Florida State Freshman, Here’s How She Made It Happen (& Now Faces the Biggest Challenge of Her Playing Career) Dec. 16, 2025

In today’s blog, she shares where she is today on the road to full recovery.

“My rehab is coming along well,” the FSU freshman says. “I am probably close to 50 percent if I were to put a number on it and I hope to get to 80-90 percent by this summer so I can get back on the field.”

“The goal is to be 100 percent by the Fall season so no reason to push anything at this point.”

Danika is honest when she admits:

“I am doing the best I can to stay positive, but nothing can prepare you for stuff like this.”

Although she’s on the road to recovery that no athlete wants to take, the collegian’s hard work and tenacity to get on the field is inspiring and can serve as motivation to those who have to battle the same path coming back from injury at some point.

Here’s more in Danika’s words of where she is today…

*****

Understanding More About ACL Injuries… And Rehab

So here we are just over a month into the season, and my team (Florida State) is 21-4 and ranked No. 10 in the nation.

My ACL rehab has been going very well, and my recovery is progressing nicely. I have been walking without a leg brace for two months now and that has helped me begin to regain the confidence in my knee.

I was very confused in the beginning as to why my ACL gave out doing something I have done hundreds of times and with zero contact with another player.

Upon researching, I learned that ACL tears occur most often from non-contact injuries as opposed to collisions. An athlete might plant their foot and twist their leg inward too quickly, or they might hyperextend their leg.

The knee often swells immediately, or shortly after, a tear, and the pain varies from person-to-person.  Females tear their ACLs at a much higher rate than males.

Anatomy and muscle strength help explain why, but females have wider pelvises and less quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteal muscle development compared to males.

Class & Recovery Schedule (Just Be Careful of the Dancing!)

My rehab schedule has not changed since my injury but my class schedule changed after the winter break. It takes about 2 ½ hours daily for me to complete my rehab. All of our athletes are advised to take more online classes to accommodate the travel and rigors of our schedule.

I am currently taking five classes (three online and two in-person) and my in-person classes meet Monday/Wednesday/ Friday.

I am currently waiting to be fitted for a new brace that will allow me to begin to partake in more strenuous physical activities, as well as wear when I begin to play again.

My weight training has been consistent and has ramped up along the way as I have begun to strengthen my leg again.

The range of motion has continued to improve as well. We have even incorporated some jump squats in the pool so that has been a fun change.

People have said that the “recovery/rehab” is the toughest part, but I have to disagree. I feel the mental part is way tougher to deal with. Sitting on the sidelines at practice is no fun but there really is not too much the trainers want me to do.

Sometimes the coaches ask me to do more but then I am told by the trainers that I cannot push it. I guess I should be grateful for the training staff constantly having my best interest at heart but on the flip side, it doesn’t feel great to be reprimanded when I (unknowingly) start vibing on my feet in the dugout to walk-up song beats.

Sometimes the music just flows through you!

Watching from the Sidelines & Managing A Healthy Balance of Softball & Downtime

Unfortunately, I have not been able to travel to our first two roads trips, Clearwater Invitational and Coastal Carolina. We have had a handful of injured players, and the decision was made that a few of us needed to stay back and focus on rehabbing.

I understand the thought process but that does not make it any easier having to watch your team play on TV instead of being there to support them.

I am back to driving my car (and scootering around campus) but I have to be super careful because I am still in the recovery phase.

A few weeks ago vs ULL, (Florida State’s) Bella Ruggiero singled to walk off the game and everyone rushed the field to congratulate her but all I could do was walk briskly towards the pack and wait for the group to disperse before hugging her.

In light of all this, it has been very enjoyable seeing a lot of my friends and former travel teammates when they come to Tallahassee to play us!

Being in Florida, we play roughly the first half of our season at home so that is a huge bonus. Recently, Alabama came to town for the Dugout Club Classic and I got a chance to see Jocelyn and Ava Briski, Ana Roman and their families!

They are all excelling this season which is great to see but it felt good to catch up with them and share some good laughs.

Sometimes you just need to unwind and enjoy time outside of softball. If you can’t find a healthy balance of softball and downtime, then it slowly begins to feel more like a job than a game.

— Danika Spinogatti/Florida State University
Instagram/TikTok: Danika.Spinogatti