Not being able to play or participate in a sport is a fear that almost all athletes share. Being held back due to injuries is one of the worst things that can happen to a young high school athlete.
Unfortunately for a few athletes on the football team their injuries during the football season are still being felt as basketball starts. Quarterback Vinny Schmidt and tight end Zane Bender both suffered season ending knee injuries towards the end of the football season.
Schmid tore his lateral meniscus and received a stress fracture in his knee while diving into the endzone in the game versus Aurora.
”I could see the end zone and dove and the defender’s helmet made contact with my knee and I knew immediately something was wrong,” Schmidt said.
He was sidelined for the rest season, but this didn’t stop Schmidt from contributing to the team.
He would wear a headset on the sideline to help call out things that he could see and help players with their assignments. He would also help replacement quarterback Blayne Dreher figure out the plays.
As basketball begins Schmidt would have to sit out of conditioning and the first couple weeks of practice. Only practicing a week before the first game he would be limited in the first two games. He would be back in full swing starting against the Holdrege Dusters.
“I would say that it is one hundred percent now, I don’t really feel it anymore,” Schmidt said.
Bender endured a similar injury in the game versus Adams Central after catching a pass and stumbling for a few extra yards.
“I caught a ball thrown by Blayne and when I was tackled one of the opponents just landed on it and twisted it”he said. Bender strained his medial collateral ligament. With just three weeks left in the season he wouldn’t see the field again.
Bender only missed a few open gyms and morning three on three scrimmages. Once conditioning started Bender didn’t miss a beat.
“It feels good now, I had to do a lot of physical therapy and work with Dr. Bohlen,” Bender said.
Bender started the first game out strong with a huge dunk on a fastbreak. He was just proving to everyone that he wasn’t going to let his lingering injury get in the way of his performance.
Injuries can be a big problem for some athletes, but these Tigers always seem to worked hard to fight through them.
