Shawnee's Kyle Wigley (44) was off to a sensational start this season before tearing a knee ligament Friday night. / Chris LaChall/Courier-Post/CHRIS LaCHALL/Courier-
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Injuries are seemingly as much a part of football as scoring touchdowns.
They’re tough to think about, but that’s the nature of the beast. Injuries are unfair, and no one ever wishes them on an opponent. Despite extra precautions, better helmets and improved equipment, they still happen.
For coach Tim Gushue and his Shawnee High School program, it’s déjà vu all over again.
For the second straight year, the Renegades have felt the wrath of serious injury.
Last season, three standout senior leaders — Dillon Lucas, Vince Corbi and Ed Royds — all missed time because they were hurt. The Renegades finished what was expected to be a promising season at 6-4 overall and were bounced from the playoffs in the first round.
A year later, the injury bug has decided to wreak havoc again — and again, to rather significant players.
First, it was senior lineman Tom Smith, widely considered to be an impact player with college potential. A fracture in his back will likely keep him out until December at the earliest, and even that’s a long shot.
Friday night, they lost another standout senior. Kyle Wigley is most likely finished with an anterior-cruciate ligament tear. Also a standout lacrosse player, he’s scheduled to have an MRI today.
Needless to say, Shawnee’s win over Clearview didn’t feel all that great. It was more like a loss.
“You feel like you’ve had your heart ripped out when you see that,” Gushue said.
“It was very solemn at the end of the game. There were no cheers. Instead there were hugs and some tears. It was very emotional. When you’re a senior in high school, this is your whole world.”
What makes this injury hurt even more is that Wigley was off to a fantastic start.
He went into Friday night with five touchdowns, was among area rushing leaders with 189 yards on 21 carries, and was a perfect 9-for-9 on PAT kicks. And before getting hurt, Wigley had scored on a 5-yard run, returned a kickoff 87 yards for a score and made two more PATs.
Gushue couldn’t ask for much more from him, other than to maybe fill the water buckets.
“Bad karma,” the coach said. “It’s frustrating to watch these boys work so hard and train so hard and then see this. It’s devastating.
“This is tough to swallow, but come (today), we have to get back to work. We have Seneca, and no one is going to feel sorry for the Renegades.”
With another one of its leaders sidelined, the time has come for others to emerge.
Maybe it will be Rob DiOrio or Anthony DiOrio or Evan Wayns. Maybe someone else will dig down and break out of the shadows.
“Players will have to do a little bit more,” Gushue said.
“Kyle meant a lot to this team. Our players are devastated. But we have to keep a positive spin on everything and help him get through it.”
