Even after season-ending surgery, football taught lessons

There are many experiences that athletes look forward to throughout their high school career, one of the biggest being their senior season.

Luckily enough, I was informed that our senior year was a go, even through COVID and the world’s problems. We were going to finish this 12-year journey that we started when we were only kids.

All the off-season work would pay off one last time, and we would take the field on Sept. 11. After a tackle only six plays into that first game, I couldn’t feel my arm.

I sat out the rest of the game and decided that the rest of the season was more important than playing on my senior night. I went to the doctor the next Monday morning, and I was informed that I had separated my shoulder.

At this point, I could sit out and let it heal or play through the pain. Considering this was my senior year I said, “Doctor, I want to play. Do what you have to do to get me on the field this Friday.”

I didn’t practice for the second week of the season, but I still played some important drives throughout the game that week. I had some great stops, and a great deflected pass.

We ended up winning that game in overtime, but I knew my shoulder was not winning. I had to go back to the doctor the following Monday and he said, “It appears you played Friday. You’ve made it worse.”

Before going into the doctor, I knew I wasn’t good. He told me that I needed surgery but also asked if I was willing to give up my senior year.

In the matter of 30 seconds, the only love that I have known for twelve years flashed in front of me. I knew my shoulder needed work and that it would help me in the long run, so I told him, “It needs fixed, so let’s do it.”

Only the doctors, my mom, and I were in the room, but everyone in there knew that I hurt my shoulder more in the second game, and that the right decision was surgery.

I had surgery on a Friday morning and there was no way I was missing my team playing Conner, one of our biggest rivals. The game wasn’t until 7 o’clock, so I made it there just fine after my surgery.

I had to watch my team of brothers go out there and fight without me for the rest of the season. This was no season like I have played before; this was the last one, my senior season.

It wasn’t until this last game, where I realized how much closer I have gotten with the team while being hurt. To me there’s more to the sport of football than just the win and loss record.

Over the past month and a half, I have realized that it takes more than a bunch of strong tough guys to be good: it takes a brotherhood and a bond. With my injury, that is all I have felt with the guys on the team.

My senior season was spent on the sideline of every practice, and every game in a sling but at least I felt comfortable. I felt my team standing behind me wherever I was.