Madeline Schultz had high hopes for her junior year with Ceres High’s girls wrestling team.

Schultz fractured her right ankle in recent weeks and could be lost for the season.

“It’s really devastating,” Schultz said. “It’s been hard to accept. I’m hoping for a miracle so I can show what I can do, prove myself and finish out my season.”

“It’s a bummer,” Bulldogs’ head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “But we’re looking at the upside. She’s still leading the team. She’s on the side getting the girls ready and keeping them motivated.”

Schultz fractured her right fibula at practice on Dec. 13.

She’s been wearing a hard cast since Dec. 15.

She’s been using crutches to get around the past couple weeks.

“When it happened, she heard something crack,” said Hulstine. “I wasn’t there. I just left to watch her younger sister’s recital at Mae Hensley. I got the call she hurt herself and I went back and checked on her.”

Schultz could get cleared to compete in six weeks, but will most likely be sidelined the rest of the year.

“We’re not going to rush her back,” Hulstine said. “We’re going to make sure she’s healthy.”

Schultz will continue to serve as a team captain.

A standout on Ceres High’s girls wrestling team since the ninth grade, Schultz has improved each season.

“I’m a lot more confident in my abilities,” she said. “Overall, I’m better. I understand the positions and concepts more. That’s helping me out a lot.”

Prior to suffering her injury, Schultz had 10-2 overall record while competing in the 190-pound weight class.

She placed first at both the Beyer Invitational and Bristow Brawl, and second at the Havoc in the Hawks Nest Tournament.

 Schultz compiled a 1-2 record at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament as a sophomore.

She took sixth at South Regionals for the second year in a row and finished third at the Western Athletic Conference Championships.

Schultz is looking forward to wrestling in the future.

She’s trying to remain optimistic.

“It’s hard,” she said. “But it’s motivating me. At some point, you have to move on, accept it and not make excuses for yourself. Now, I can focus on the offseason. I’m going to go to bigger tournaments and get exposure. The plan is to wrestle in college.”

Added Hulstine: “There are some colleges that have reached out.”