It was beyond what Emma McHugh had hoped. The breathtaking scenery lived up to its billing, complemented by an appreciation of its rich history, and that joyful fulfillment upon realizing that a forever memory is being created alongside loved ones.
That was a family vacation to Greece.
Because one of the few things the Tappan Zee star enjoys as much as basketball is international travel, the 17-year-old having already checked off some of the popular bucket-list locales of folks three times her age.
Of course, she helped create another cherished memory last week — about 20 minutes from home. McHugh starred in the Section 1 girls basketball tournament, earning MVP of the classification, after leading the Dutchmen to the Class A championship.
An incredible accomplishment for any team and athlete, to be sure, but even more rewarding for a group whose previous three seasons had been cut short in the semifinals. And for a player who was sidelined for more than a year because of injury.
McHugh tore an ACL in September 2024 during the soccer season, the devastating cost of an awkward landing from a jump. What followed was a year-long recovery and rehabilitation process, filled with physical pain and mental anguish, and a persistent longing for normalcy.
“What’s amazing about her is how motivated and determined she is,” coach Riley Chevrier said of the versatile 5-foot-10 wing. “She didn’t just rehab to regain function, but she was working out constantly and got in the best shape of her life. She keeps adding to her bag, always wanting to know what she can do better. Along with the physical therapy, there was a personal trainer, fitness sessions. Because she cares that much.”
Throughout the comeback, there was unwavering internal drive, a quiet impetus that pushed McHugh through the most difficult times. McHugh not only hoped, but she believed, that her return to the court would be triumphant and she would help deliver Tappan Zee a title, rising some of the bad taste of those postseason heartbreaks.
Lo and behold.
While celebrating the championship with her teammates, holding tight to the commemorative gold ball trophy, the senior chatted with lohud about the accomplishment, upcoming travel plans, and superpowers.
It took more than 12 months before you returned to sports. What was the recuperation like? “It was a long, tedious process with lots of ups and downs. I had a really good (physical therapist) and a support system around me that pushed me every day. But my goal the whole time was the thought of being able to come back, have a healthy season, and help my team win.
I think I did the right thing taking additional time to get ready. I kept telling myself that no matter how badly I wanted to get back early, I’d be better off if I made sure I was totally healthy. If I had rushed it to get back to playing, even by a couple weeks, and then reinjured it or had a setback, I would’ve never forgiven myself.”
The spin move into a pull-up jumper or layup has become your signature. How long has that been in the arsenal? “That’s been one of my go-to moves since I was in fourth grade. My AAU coaches told me from early on to work on it because that would really help me. They were right.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? “I’d want to be able to know what people are thinking. Or to be able to teleport. Those two things are probably the best superpowers. If you can read minds, you have all the knowledge you could ever want. And if you can teleport, you can be wherever you want to be, whenever.”
But if you had to drive across the country in a car with three people, anyone throughout history, who would you choose? “I’d need someone who’s really smart. It’s always good to be around smart people, but I think a long drive like that, you definitely want someone who can think their way through it if there’s a complication. Albert Einstein. Then I need a good singer, so Tate McRae. She’ll keep us entertained. And then my good friend (and teammate) Adrianna D’Orio. She’s always a good time, always laughing. We’d have a great time.”
Do you have a song that gets you going before games? “ I listen to ‘Need You Now’ by Lady A. I’ve gotten the whole team on it, too. It’s not really a hype song, but it works. It calms me down, gets me in game mode. Also, ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay.”
What does holding the gold ball and the tournament MVP trophy mean to you? “The championship, the award, everything, it felt like my moment. It’s what I’ve dreamt of. This is why I did all that extra work on the hardest days. This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in basketball.”
If you had all the time in the world and finance wasn’t a consideration: “If I didn’t have school, I’d want to travel the world. I’d spend all my time just visiting all the places I’ve heard of and wanted to see.”
What’s No. 1 on the list? “Hawaii. It looks incredible, from everything I’ve seen on TV and in pictures.”
Of the places you’ve been, what are the favorites? “Santorini and Paris. Those cities are beautiful.”
Oh, you just stopped in Santorini on the way from Mykonos? “Yeah, actually. We went to Mykonos, too.”
What next on the itinerary? “We’ve got a four-country trip planned for Italy, Spain, France and Tunisia.”
What’s the ideal pastime on long flights? “I’ll have headphones in for a while, but the music eventually stops or I’ll get bored with it. And I can’t sleep on planes, so I download shows to watch beforehand. I might binge two seasons during the flights… I’m really into ‘Manifest’ on Netflix. I probably rewatch it once a month.”
How exciting are the family vacations? “They’re so much fun and it’s something I’m always looking forward to. Both my siblings are in college, so those trips are a chance for us all to get together, take a break from everyday life and enjoy ourselves.”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tappan Zee’s Emma McHugh talks triumphant return from torn ACL, life
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
