Like many athletes at National Park College, Brianna Barger is thankful for the opportunity
to play basketball at the next level. For the freshman, donning the Nighthawks jersey
is the silver lining at the end of what has been a long, challenging road.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was in fifth grade,” Barger said. “I really
started playing after baseball season was over because I wanted something else to
do. My parents told me to try it and that’s when I started playing pee-wee basketball.”
As a youth, Barger shined for West Fork School District in northwest Arkansas. When
she was 12 years old, however, an injury changed everything for the rising star.
“When I was 12 years old, I dislocated my kneecap,” Barger said. “It was at my first
travel ball tournament. I didn’t think much of it at the time and just kept playing
through it.” Over the next four years, however, Barger’s injury woes worsened. One
dislocation became nine and suddenly, a promising basketball career came to a standstill.
“Between the ages of 12 and 16, I dislocated my kneecap nine times between both legs,”
Barger said. “When I was 16, I had two medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) surgeries
to correct it. They took a piece of my hamstring tendon and looped it through and
screwed it down.”
With multiple surgeries came multiple recovery times and Barger soon found herself
off the court for an entire year—right in the prime of her high school career.
“Each surgery required six months recovery time,” Barger said. “I was out of basketball
for an entire year. I came back halfway through my junior season at West Fork, but
I didn’t play a lot. In my senior year, I tore my ACL and meniscus and never played
high school ball again.”
Despite her high school career being marred by injury, Barger wasn’t ready to hang
up her shoes for good. A chance meeting with the coach of a rising program gave her
a second chance to continue the game she loved as a member of the National Park Nighthawks—170
miles away from home.
“Playing on the next level has always been the game plan for me,” Barger said. “It’s
really hard to find a team that wants you after tearing your ACL and missing the rest
of your senior season, on top of all the other knee problems. [Coach Marvin Moody
Sr.] met with my recruiter at a travel ball tournament and my recruiter told me that
it was worth a shot to visit National Park College. I came here and really liked the
style of basketball that Coach Moody liked to play. I liked being able to come into
a growing program and contribute immediately on the floor. Two days after visiting
the school, I knew that this was the place for me.”
“After talking to Brianna and her dad, I invited her to come down to try out for
us,” Nighthawks head coach Marvin Moody Sr. said. “Listening to her story was very
compelling for me. At try outs, she worked really hard for me and I could see in her
eyes the intent on what she wanted to be.”
This season, Barger has contributed sparingly in scrimmage games while rehabilitating
a partial kneecap dislocation. However, with National Park College nearing its first
game in more than a month, Barger says she’s ready for her first true game as a Nighthawk.
“I’m excited to get back on the floor after being hurt so many times,” Barger said.
“Our main team goal this season is to build the foundation for future success in the
program. I want us to be known as a women’s basketball powerhouse. My goal is to mature
my game and get better and stay healthy for the remainder of my time here. I want
to do my part to get more wins for my team.”
“Brianna is so determined,” Moody said. “In a scrimmage game this year, she hurt
her knee again, but she refused to quit. I asked her if she was sure that this is
what she still wanted to do. Even when she couldn’t play, she attended all of our
practices—even when she couldn’t run or couldn’t move. She’s just determined to play
and be a part of Nighthawk Nation. She’s a great kid and a great student as well.”
This weekend, Barger and the Nighthawks (1-3) travel to Jackson, Tennessee to compete
in the Lady Green Jay Classic at Jackson State Community College. National Park College
faces Jackson State Community College Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Dyersburg State Saturday
at 2:00 p.m.
“Brianna is always going to give 100-percent on defense,” Moody added. “She has a
great shot and she has been working hard to improve that. She’s going to play great
defense and she’s a great teammate. I think that she will come in and surprise some
people.”
Off the court, Barger focuses on her academics in hopes of one day helping athletes
who have walked in her shoes.
“I’ve always wanted to be a college coach,” Barger said. “I’m getting my basics right
now, but I would love to be a kinesiology major and work toward becoming a coach.”
“I’m a grinder,” Barger added. “I’ve had people tell me that I wouldn’t play basketball
again because of my knee problems. People will tell you that you can’t do things in life.
You just have to ignore them. Work hard and don’t be afraid to give it everything
you have. Don’t be afraid of failure and never let anyone discourage you from doing
something you are passionate about.”
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit www.np.edu/basketball. Visit NJCAA Division II team stats for up-to-date NJCAA statistics on the Nighthawks. Fans can also follow
the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
