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No Pain, No Gain for the Harlaxton Lions
By Jessica Gerlach
It was a chilly afternoon on January 31st, as Jake McKain and about 30 other
Harlaxton students gathered for Rugby training on the pitch in front of
Harlaxton Manor. The friendly game was going well until McKain went to receive a
punt.
That was only the first of the sports related injuries McKain would receive while at Harlaxton. February 4th, McKain was playing a scrimmage game with the other members of the Harlaxton Lions basketball team. “I went up to block Eric ‘Skywalker’ Floyd and when I came down, I rolled my ankle.” McKain said. “I felt it pop five times. I knew I had sprained it.” His friends jokingly asked McKain if he needed to be taken away to the glue factory. After talking to the visiting doctor at Harlaxton, McKain was diagnosed with an ankle sprain, which was not quite serious enough to require a trip to the glue factory. McKain had an ankle brace that he had brought from home, he said. He was also given some crutches. Getting around the school hasn’t been impossible, but it has presented some challenges. “There’s a lot of steps at Harlaxton College,” McKain said. The doctor instructed McKain to wait three weeks before easing back into sports. McKain is used to sports and injuries, having played several intramural sports, including soccer and flag football, at his school, the University of Evansville. He said that he plans on joining the basketball team again, once his ankle has healed. The injury did not keep him from enjoying himself during a trip to Ireland this past weekend. He was able to make it to the top of a waterfall and swim in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There is one perk to McKain’s injuries. “I do get to use the faculty bath tub until next weekend,” he grinned.
While Jake is benched until his injury heals, the rest of the Harlaxton Lions basketball team is still at work. “They’re working incredibly hard,” said Dr. Bruce Anderson, the faculty coach for the Lions. Anderson did not realize he would be coaching while at Harlaxton. Anderson, who coaches the tennis team at Baker University, had arrived at Harlaxton to teach several political science classes. When the need arose for a basketball coach, he stepped up to the plate, or rather, the basket. “I know all about the coach stuff, but very little about the basketball stuff,” said Anderson. Because of a limited knowledge of basketball, Anderson said that he relies tremendously on the team captains, Dustin Whitis and Natalia Potrzuski. “The team, to a point, runs itself,” he said. The team consists of 19 – 20 people, depending on who can make it, and rotates so that everyone can have time to play, said Anderson. Having so many people can be an advantage because there are plenty of fresh players to rotate into the game. Anderson said that the team is made up of even numbers of men and women whose skill level range from beginner to intermediate. “The women aren’t as aggressive, but they’re very smart players,” said Anderson. The team began with a rule that at least two women would always be on the court at all times. “It’s worked out to be a pretty good strategy,” he said. The school team plays various leagues in the area. League teams can be made up of people from any organization, such as a school, church or community. The Lions have played four games already this semester and have an upcoming game, February 21st against the Lincoln Panthers. Although Harlaxton has not won any of their games yet, it is not a complete loss. “People are having fun,” said Anderson, “and that’s what we’re really trying to do.” |
Jake McKain's Rugby injury.
Jake McKain, despite crutches, smiles for a picture at The Ladies View in Ireland.