NICHOLAS COUNTY, Ky. — In her fourth year playing on the girls' basketball team, Nicholas County High School senior Katie Switzer has set an example to those around her about what it means to persevere.
Switzer was born in China and then adopted by her parents, who brought her to the U.S. when she was 4 years old. She has been in Nicholas County ever since.
Prior to her adoption, one of her feet was amputated, but it’s unknown what condition led to the amputation. That didn’t stop her from participating in sports.
“My family is extremely active,” Switzer said. “I fit right in with them. We always compete together."
"It wasn’t until I was probably in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth [grade] when I started realizing the difference because that’s when I started being more self-conscious about myself and I started realizing that I was limping and all that stuff.”
Switzer had a wooden prosthetic that was heavy and made physical activity a challenge. That changed in eighth grade after she received a blade from Amputee Blade Runners (ABR), a nonprofit that gives free running prosthetics for people with an amputation.
“This prosthetic goes with my running, and it’s just so much better,” Switzer said. “It actually gives me return opposed to my other prosthetics, which caused all kinds of problems and rashes. But this one has been so much better than past ones.”
In addition to basketball, Switzer also participates in golf, volleyball and tennis.
Nicholas County girls’ basketball coach Greg Letcher has coached Switzer for four years, and he's not only impressed by her work ethic during practice and competition, but her accomplishments outside of the basketball court.
“She means so much to our program and our school," Letcher said.
Switzer said she's grateful for her family, coaches and sports for shaping her into who she is today.
“Honestly, sports [have] given me everything that I could ever imagine, and I can’t really imagine my life without sports," Switzer said. "That’s why I continue to keep on playing anything that I possibly can."
With graduation approaching, Switzer said she has thought about playing sports at the collegiate level. She aspires to get an internship with ABR and eventually be a prosthetist.