Fantastic Flyer
Reagan High Jumper Overcomes Brain Bleed to Win
District Medal
By Amy Morgan
A fall saved her life. What seemed initially to be a smallish setback at Ronald Reagan High School senior Aryiel Sherman’s high jump practice revealed a potentially fatal bleed in her brain. In the blink of an eye, the elite athlete went from training for state-level competition to neurosurgery and months of recovery.
Aryiel was familiar with concussion protocol from her experience being a flyer in cheer, but the nausea after an off high jump landing in September 2024 was different. A CT scan revealed a Cerebral Cavernous Malformation in her brain that was bleeding internally. The physician told her she could have bled out within days if she would not have gone to the hospital.
“I’d never had surgery, never broken a bone. I had no time to process (that she was about to have brain surgery) and was overwhelmed,” she said.
“I was geared up to win the medals my junior year. I had interest letters from colleges. Then I couldn’t do anything. I was angry. Then I realized I was not the only one this was affecting.” Aryiel found strength in her faith, praying and listening to Even If by Mercy Me before not just the first, but a second surgery required to remove all the residual tissue.
“I felt like God was saying it was going to be ok,” she said. After surgery she could barely turn her head and had to practice walking. Running, working out and especially high jump were out of the question. Although it was emotionally painful “watching everyone do what I was made to do and not being able to do it,” Aryiel was grateful for her life. “I had my family to fight for. I had high jump to fight for.”
In January she was able to work out again and a few weeks later was cleared to jump by scissoring, a warm-up move that landed her on her feet rather than flopping onto her surgical incision site. But at least Aryiel could put her spikes on again. The 2025 high school track season was winding down, the District meet was immanent, and she still wasn’t cleared to jump.
“I couldn’t contribute to my team — that was the hardest part ever.” Aryiel had one more chance to be cleared the day before Districts. Her participation hung in the balance. “The suspense was killing everyone,” she said. When the surgeon told her he didn’t see why she wouldn’t be able to jump, Aryiel broke into tears. Back
at school, the happy scene was repeated with track Coach McHugh.
The next day, Aryiel’s warm up was rough. She reminded herself to be happy she was even able to be there. She cleared 5’, then 5’2”. She missed 5’4”, but so did the other girls. When her turn came again, Aryiel breathed the verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The picture of her smiling on the mat as she won the first place District high jump medal tells the story.
“That was such a personal accomplishment,” she said. “No one can take that away from me. I carry that on my backpack. I will remember that win and being able to share it with my teammates and family for the rest of my life.” Aryiel went on to place third in Regionals, clearing 5’5” and missing State by just one spot.
At AAU this summer Aryiel place sixth and was named an All-American. She’s continued to build strength, swimming with her younger brother on the Heights of Stone Oak summer league team and training three times a week at So High Sports and Fitness in San Marcos with Olympic medalist coach Charles Austin.
“I know I have to work to be the best, but I love training for it,” she said. She plans to continue to jump in college, looking at North Carolina State, Florida or Texas A&M. Aryiel plans to study sports or pediatric psychology because she knows she can identify with and help those going through their own setbacks.
“No one really understood what I went through,” she said. But Aryiel’s grateful to be on the other side and looking forward to her senior season to shine.
