Phipps puts up fight to get back on the court
By: Austin Kim
Updated: January 20, 2013
Bryan Phipps' knees have seen better days.
"Around my freshman year, I popped my knee caps out," recalls the senior. "My sophomore year, I popped my right one out. Overall, I popped my right one out three times. My left one out; two."
Ouch! His junior year, Phipps went to see the doctor...who finally told him what to do.
"I would have double knee surgery and I'd be out for both football and basketball. So that was kind of a struggle going through that. But I was glad to have a good support system. I have been dealing with this for awhile, so my trainer did a good job of keeping me going."
He got each surgery done separately, so he could at least move around on crutches.
After months of rehab, the senior decided to test his knees out on the hardwood...
and was able to return for his last season...
"We knew we missed him last year," said head coach Kevin Roy. "We knew his ability. We knew his potential. And it was more of a relief to have him back this year. He just takes a lot of pressure off his teammates."
No kidding, coach. He's one of the top rebounders on the team, and, surprisingly is the leading the team in assists. More importantly, the knees are holding up, which keeps him, on the court...
"That was probably the hardest part last year was watching my teammates and everything. So being able to come back this year and help my team out, it was a great feeling. It was good to be back.."
"Around my freshman year, I popped my knee caps out," recalls the senior. "My sophomore year, I popped my right one out. Overall, I popped my right one out three times. My left one out; two."
Ouch! His junior year, Phipps went to see the doctor...who finally told him what to do.
"I would have double knee surgery and I'd be out for both football and basketball. So that was kind of a struggle going through that. But I was glad to have a good support system. I have been dealing with this for awhile, so my trainer did a good job of keeping me going."
He got each surgery done separately, so he could at least move around on crutches.
After months of rehab, the senior decided to test his knees out on the hardwood...
and was able to return for his last season...
"We knew we missed him last year," said head coach Kevin Roy. "We knew his ability. We knew his potential. And it was more of a relief to have him back this year. He just takes a lot of pressure off his teammates."
No kidding, coach. He's one of the top rebounders on the team, and, surprisingly is the leading the team in assists. More importantly, the knees are holding up, which keeps him, on the court...
"That was probably the hardest part last year was watching my teammates and everything. So being able to come back this year and help my team out, it was a great feeling. It was good to be back.."
