SPORTS
March 7.2014
Comeback kid Brandon Rothfuss ready for fall season
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Junior forward Brandon Rotlifuss is recovering from a tom ACL and meniscus in his right knee.
BY ALLIE BADDLEY
Staff Writer
"It's extremely unforttmate what
happened," said assistant men's soccer
coaA Peter Truitt. "It's tough to stick with
it, and keep your hopes high."
Junior forward Brandon Rothfuss,
captain of the men's soccer team, suffered
two major knee injuries playing the game
that he loves.
But he's not hanging up the cleats yet.
"To come back from serious injuries two
times was very inspiring," said sophomore
soccer defender Jake Elsey. "I think he shows
a lot of endurance and courage coming back
on the soccer field next season."
While studying abroad in London,
Rothfuss tried out for the Imperial College
soccer team, where he took three classes that
included British life and business and an
internship at a non-profit that specialized
in coaching kids in an after school program.
On Feb. 9, 2013, in the third game of the
season, Rothfuss' right leg hyperextended
when an opponent kicked his thigh as
Rothfuss ch^enged them for the ball in the
air.
The result? A tom LCL.
"They said I wouldn't be able to play for
a whole year, but I was fortunate to come
back six months later," said Rothfuss.
After months on cmtches, physical
therapy and surgery, Rothfuss was finally
cleared to play on Sept. 17,2013.
"I was excited to be able to get back at
it," said Rothfuss. "The doctors said I was
almost paralyzed in my right leg, which is
pretty scary to not be able to play the sport
I have been growing up to love so much."
But eight seconds into his comeback.
the same day he was cleared for contact,
Rothfuss would go down yet again.
This time, a teammate accidently kicked
him and the knee hyperextended.
The result? A tom ACL and meniscus in
the right knee.
"It was a big letdown to be working that
hard for that long of a time to just come back
and redo everything that just happened,"
said Rothfuss.
While recovering, the captain showed
his dedication to the team by attending all
Guilford's practices and games.
"Even with the injury ... he still shows
up to everything and gathers the group
together," said first-year defender Cam
Stewart.
Sitting out the majority of his junior
season, Rothfuss watched and cheered from
the sidelines, living vicariously through his
teammates.
"I tried to turn it around and make it
positive, and it helped me to become a
better leader not so much on the field but
also off the field," Rothfuss said.
Even while rehabbing, the forward has
proved to be a great asset.
"Being able to watch from the sidelines
has definitely taught him a lot in terms
of leadership," said Dillon. "He's the one
that's there to pick everyone back up and
get everyone motivated."
Although a tough decision, Rothfuss
has decided to return to the sport he loves
despite the injuries. The team is looking
forward to his full recovery and return to
his peak performance.
"His comeback next season really speaks to
his character as a dedicated student athlete,"
said Elsey. "1 am excited he has the chance to
prove himself for his senior season."
Tennis athletes work hard on and off the courts
BY KELLI URESTI
Staff Writer
Guilford College's men's tennis team opened the
Old Dominion Athletic Conference se^on in winning
fashion by overpowering Roanoke College 8-0. In the
closest match last Friday, junior Trevor Cox defeated
Chris Migliarese, 6-4,6-4.
"Our boys are strong this year," said head men's and
women's tennis coach Dave McCain.
Although the sim set on sophomore Erik Meiler's
match, resulting in a cancellation, it did not dim the
Quakers as they routed Roanoke.
However, the women's team faced the opposite fate
by losing 9-^ to the conference foe.
"Roanoke girls are extremely good," said McCain.
'They are probably the second-best team in the
conference."
First-year Nora Prokosch showed promise, as her
winning match went to a three set tiebreaker.
"The girls played reaUy well, even though the score
didn't show," said McCain. "They competed well. I am
proud of both teams.
"They played as hard as they could, and that makes
me very proud."
McCain must be satisfied with his players off the
court activities as well. On both squads, student athletes
participate in organizations like Fellow Christian
Athletes and Bormer Scholars.
Sophomore Lud Gordan, a dual threat for the
Quakers, plays tennis and soccer. In her first action of
the season on Saturday against L5mchburg, she won a
singles and doubles match.
"Lud is an amazing person," said jimior tennis player
Allison Hewitt. "She is a hard worker and has a lot of
heart."
Gordan explained how she balances two teams and
commitmente both in and out of the dassroom. Interested
in religion, Gordan joined the FCA and Guilford HiUel.
"It keeps me happy," said Gordan. "I actually do a lot
better time management wise when I have a lot of things
on my plate."
Also, Gordan gets the best of both worlds as she
enjoys being around her teammates.
"It's a wonderful feeling having two sets of fiiends
and teammates to cheer you on and be there for you,"
said Gordan.
Men's team junior Blake Brown is also a model student
involved in extracurricular activities around campus.
"I am involved in the theme houses, Prindpal Problem
Solving, Orientation, and some campus actiAdties," said
Brown. "During my free time I enjoy seeing the other
sports play and just walking around campus."
Brown s typical day is not like most on campus. He
takes night classes to be able to focus on tennis, and
works at public safety during the day.
On top of Brown's busy schedule, he found time to
earn the first ODAC Tennis Player of the Week Award.
The tenms team takes pride in representing Guilford
as student athletes, and works hard to portray a positive
brand across campus.
"I think it is a good thing that when we are out in
public people don't know we are tennis players, but
know us for pur involvemept in* the school," said
Brown. ’
Hopefully, Guilford can have another dominant
performance in their next home match against Sweet
Briar Saturday, March 29.
Michael Sam
posts subpar NFL
Combine resuits
BY SUKYUN CHUNG
Staff Writer
A few weeks ago, NFL hopeful Michael Sam, from the
University of Mi^ouri, shocked the sporting world with his
infamous armouncement.
Since then, he has not turned many heads.
"You're talking about a seventh-rormd pick, possibly even
going rmdrafted," said NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah on
NFLAM.
S^ failed to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 22.
His official 40-yard dash time was 4.91 seconds. Sam's time
pales in comparison to potential overall first pick, Jadeveon
aowne/s official 4.53 seconds.
Housewife and Atlanta Falcon fan Janice Dawn said Sam's
time was disappointing.
"Even qu^erbacks are logging in better times than Sam," said
Dawn in an interview with the Guilfordian.
"His combine performance would turn me off of him
completely," said software developer and Carolina Panthers
fan Dave Moore in an interview with the Guilfordian. "I just
cannot see a player with these stats having any future in
professional football."
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