Many athletes compete with a small voice in the back of their heads saying, “What if I get hurt?” Accompanying this voice ironically include thoughts of invincibility. Sometimes that little voice is right and they put their have worked for their entire lives disappears.

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Dayton Schwab(#21) enjoyed significant varsity playing time last season.

This happened to senior Dayton Schwab and junior Cooper Lancaster while competing in that most dangerous sport . . . football. Schwab ended up with a knee injury that needed surgery, while Lancaster broke his collarbone. Both basketball play basketball and face many trials for the current season. Lancaster said, “I’m worried about missing all the conditioning. Then when I get back in being out of shape.” 

Every year an average of 3.5 million athletes around the world get hurt. Many of these players make their money off of what they do. Getting hurt can be catastrophic to a career. Other athletes do it for fun, but it doesn’t mean they put all their time into it.

To get ready for basketball season, Dayton Schwab practiced shooting every day in the summer for hours. After the surgery, he was told that he couldn’t play basketball his senior year, but with hard work in physical therapy, he might be able to play at the end of the season. There is still risk with playing. Schwab said, “I’m worried about trusting my knee again to play.”  

Even though two great players got hurt, the Braves still have players who will play on. Junior Dylan Shumay said, “Well, with two of our main guys being out, it obviously will make things more difficult, but we got [sic] lots of talent, and we will have other guys step up and fill roles. I think we will end up being all right and get some wins.”  

Players never know how the season will end up and all hope for the best, but the possibility of injury is one every athlete accepts when they play. The Braves have had their fair share of injuries and hopefully will stay healthy over the winter sports season.