by Steven Baker and Nick Mannion
While going for a ground ball during the 2015 Varsity Boys Lacrosse sectional championship, now-senior Sam Mueller lifted his stick awkwardly, and popped his shoulder out of place, tearing his labrum in his shoulder. He went through surgery to repare the injury on Oct. 14. Mueller said that the surgery went well but the tear was worse than he thought. Though his injury was in the spring it prevents him from joining the JD/Christian Brothers Academy hockey team on the ice.
Mueller is not happy about missing his last season, ”but not playing will help strengthen my shoulder,” said Mueller. Although Mueller will not be able to play with his team, he says he will still be able to lead and motivate them from the sidelines. “It will be tough not being on the ice with my teammates, but I’m confident we will still play well,” he says.
As for lacrosse where he plays long stick defender, the outlook is brighter. Mueller says he will be able to lace up and join his team on the turf half way through the season. Although Mueller is not participating in hockey and will miss half the season of lacrosse, his career is not over after graduation. he will be playing Divison I lacrosse at Hobart College. “I’m very excited to be playing at Hobart,” said Mueller.
Many of Mueller’s teammates are looking forward to him returning for lacrosse. “It shouldn’t be much of a setback, lacrosse season is a while away,” said junior lacrosse player Jake Greenway. “He will be back in time for all the good games,” said sophomore lacrosse teammate Griffin Cook. Senior Michael Swan believes “He will be back and better than ever.”
The lacrosse and hockey teams both hope to repeat last year’s success and be in contention for state titles again this season. The hockey team ended last season 19-3-2 and went 10-3-2 and lost in the Diivision II state semifinals. Last season the lacrosse team ended 18-2 and 10-0 in their division and lost in the state semi-final game to Victor. When he returns, Mueller hopes to lead the lacrosse team to a state championship.