Lightning’s Dion overcame injury

As a three-sport athlete Sage Hill School senior Jackie Dion certainly remained busy throughout her four years with the Lightning.

Adversity plagued her senior year, but Dion pressed on. A dislocated kneecap sustained in January kept her out for the rest of the girls’ soccer season. But she battled back to compete for Sage Hill during the track and field season.

Next year, it’s off to USC, where she plans to compete in track and field. She certainly left her mark with the Lightning.

Dion has been named the Academy League Female Athlete of the Year. She was also the Sage Hill CIF Southern Section Academic Athlete of the Year.

Dion, a team captain for the cross country, soccer and track and field teams, was named the Lightning’s MVP for the cross country team in the fall. She earned second-team all-league honors.

During the winter, she remained with the soccer squad and supported her teammates as they finished second in the Academy League.

Her injury came in the first Academy League match of the season.

She rehabilitated to return for the track and field season.

She scored points throughout the season in the 400 meters. She was also part of the 4x100 relay team that finished fourth in the league finals and the 4x400 team that took fifth in the Academy League.

Now she plans to continue her improvement at USC.

— From staff reports