finding meaning in adversity

One of the hard lessons we learn as we grow up is that life isn’t always fair.

Once the beast of unfairness rears its ugly head, however, the best course of action is simple: stare the monster down, then wrestle it to submission.

Take the cases of David Mathews and Patrick Burke, both seniors at Collegiate, both successful three-sport athletes, and both well-respected leaders in the school community.

In the athletic arena, neither will overwhelm you with his size, but both play their games the way they’re supposed to be played – with heart, desire, intensity, and sportsmanship.

And both, unfortunately, will be watching (and cheering) from the sidelines during the upcoming basketball and track seasons.

Within 10 days this fall, they suffered major knee injuries that required reconstructive surgery and will have them in rehabilitation for the remainder of their high school athletic careers.

In what should be their glory days, they’re faced with a daunting challenge, one that they could easily brush off by wallowing in self-pity or screaming “Why me?” at the top of their lungs.

Instead, they’re facing their plight philosophically and with the passion that they’ve always displayed on the playing field, court, and track.

“I’m certainly disappointed because I’ve worked so hard,” said Mathews, who in the last two years has also had surgery on his shoulder (torn rotator cuff), ankle (bone spur), and hand (broken bone). 

“At the same time, I can count on my teammates.  It’s like a brotherhood.  I feel their support and still feel very much a part of the team.

“When you put things in perspective, especially with September 11, there’re a lot of people dealing with worse.”

Adds Burke, “At first, it was really hard when I realized I wouldn’t play in another state (soccer) tournament or play St. Christopher’s again or when I walked through the (Jacobs) gym and realized I wouldn’t play on that floor again.

“Everything has a reason, but I’m not sure I’ve figured this one out yet. I guess it’s just testing things I’ve developed.”

Mathews, a fullback and linebacker on the football team, caught a helmet in the outside of his left knee in a game at Episcopal  on Sept. 28 and tore both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.

“It was the weirdest feeling,” he recalls.  “I felt the knee pop, and I knew something was wrong, but there wasn’t any pain.”

He underwent surgery Oct. 29 and has been told that rehab will take 6 to 9 months.  

Burke, who plays midfield on the Collegiate soccer team and also for the U-18 Strikers, sustained a torn ACL as well as meniscus damage in his right knee at Blue Ridge on Oct. 9.

He had just stolen the ball when a Baron player clipped him from behind.

“Just a play in the field,” Burke says.  “He didn’t mean to hurt me.”

He hit the deck, limped off the field, applied ice for 20 minutes, and returned briefly.  The first time he received the ball and pulled it across his body, the knee failed him, and he hobbled to the sideline for the final time.

Burke’s surgery was performed Oct. 30.  His rehab will take 4 to 6 months.

“They’ve had incredibly positive attitudes through this whole thing,” said Mac Friddell, their classmate and fellow athlete.

“Obviously, sports means a lot to them. Now a huge piece of their lives is missing, but they’ve been very strong through the whole ordeal.”

Last winter, Burke (5-9, 155) and Mathews  (5-10,185) were the starting guards on the varsity basketball team and were elected captains for the upcoming season.

“These are two fine young men, outstanding leaders,” said Coach Michael Brost.  “They’re gritty, and they’ll run through a wall for you.

“They’ll do just about anything they need to do to be successful.  We’ll definitely miss them on the court, but their leadership will continue.”

Basketball practice began Tuesday.

While Mathews and Burke won’t be running the offense or pestering opposing guards from the Cougars’ pressing defense, they’ll be on hand to fill their roles as captains on varsity game days and most practice sessions.  They’ve also volunteered to be assistant coaches in our Cub program.

No doubt, their impact will be felt, and their model of class, intensity and poise will continue, even if life sent them down a path different from the one they intended.

“Dealing with adversity is character building,” said Mathews.  “I know this has happened for a reason.

“In the end, I know we’ll look back on it as a tough experience that was really valuable.”