The road to recovery for Mount Si High School junior Caleb Williams has been remarkable.

Seriously injured in a swimming accident in the summer of 2005 on the Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Williams has spent the past year healing from the head injuries he suffered in that terrible incident. But, just one year later, Williams looks well and while he’ll never suit up again for the Wildcat boys’ basketball team, he has found a new sport to call his own: tennis.

Williams is back on the court for Mount Si this fall with the boys’ junior varsity tennis team, and Mount Si’s longtime junior varsity coach Jane Job couldn’t be happier for him. “From where he was a year ago to where he is today is like a miracle and I think that’s just great that he has found an area where he can compete in again,” Job said.

Williams’ dedication to his recovery was important. “I just knew that I had the chance to get better if I just worked hard, so I just had to work my hardest,” Williams said.

Job says Wildcat varsity tennis coach Gary Olson was key to getting Williams prepared to make his return to athletic competition with the tennis program. “Over the summer, he worked with Gary. And Gary helped him on his forehand and backhand, and I think it’s just his natural athletic ability that just has come through with his racquet control and his eye-hand coordination. He’s doing a great job,” the coach said.

There are several other sports that he can compete in. “I can pretty much just do any sport I want, just as long as there’s not, like, physical contact,” said Williams, meaning that such sports as football, baseball and soccer are out, but he could compete in golf, track and cross country, in addition to tennis.

As to his future in basketball, Williams said that because the head injuries he suffered in the accident are permanent in nature, it looks as if his competitive playing days are done. “From what I understand the doctors are basically saying that, for probably the rest of my life I won’t be playing competitive basketball anymore,” Williams said, but added that he could play pick-up games provided there’s no physical contact.

Just because he can’t play anymore doesn’t mean that he’s totally done with hoops, however. “It’s always been fun just to watch basketball. I still just love doing that,” Williams said, and there is always the possibility he could coach someday.

Job says his teammates are helping Williams make a smooth transition. “They treat him just like anybody else. There’s nothing different. They’re all the same. They all work hard, they all work together. They’re having a great time,” the coach said.

Even with his amazing recovery over the last year, it still can get even better. “I can improve from anywhere from a year to four years after my accident,” Williams said. “I can still heal for two more years.”