NEW GLARUS - About two weeks before New Glarus-Monticello's season opener, senior quarterback Gavin Binger received the devastating news that he would not be allowed to throw a pass this year.
Binger was shocked to find out that among his 11 various hip injuries, he had a torn abductor tendon in his hip, a partially torn hip flexor, a bruised hip with fluid in the ball and socket and two bulging discs in his back.
"I started bawling my eyes out," Binger said. "They told me I wouldn't be able to play sports this year. I thought everything I worked for in high school was just taken from me."
Binger lost the explosion in his jumping ability and lost his speed and mobility during an AAU basketball tournament in Minnesota in July.
"I fell apart," he said. "I couldn't jump. I wasn't as fast. I wasn't as mobile."
Binger took one week off in hopes he could return to the basketball court. He played with New Glarus in a tournament in Oshkosh in August. He made it through one game but sat out the next five due to the pain.
"I have had some minor injuries before," Binger said. "I just thought I would sit out a couple of weeks and then come back to play football."
Binger underwent an MRI at the University of Wisconsin Health Sports Medicine Center in Madison. He still recalls the stunning results his parents gave him a couple weeks before the Glarner Knights season opener against Edgerton.
"They told me I couldn't play sports this year," Binger said. "It was big news. I was like "holy smokes.' I didn't really think I was that messed up.
"I accepted it and I knew I had to lead my team in a different way."
Binger isn't 100 percent certain what caused his hip injuries. He suspects the wear and tear from training for sports year-round took its toll.
"I have been training since eighth grade non-stop for four years," he said. "I didn't get any rest and that is what killed me."
After seven weeks of resting and sitting out football practices and games, Binger went back to the UW Health Sports Medicine Center for a checkup. A surgeon stretched him out and Binger was surprised that he was pain free.
Returning to play football became more than a pipe dream.
"The surgeon said it's kind of iffy," Binger recalled. "He said, "I don't know how long you will hold up.'"
Binger did do some upperbody weight lifting during his time off. He did some swimming and bike riding to keep his joints loose.
And then he returned to start at quarterback against Marshall Sept. 18. He has led the Knights (2-5, 2-1 Capitol South) to two straight wins over Belleville and Wisconsin Heights.
"It was phenomenal," Binger said. "It was just the right amount of rest I needed. Now, I'm just flying around. I was given another chance and I'm going to make the most of it.
"I have no pain at all. It's amazing. It's a blessing."
Binger will lead the Knights against Cambridge (4-3, 2-1 Capitol South) Friday. With one more win, the Knights can become postseason eligible.
"Everyone is so pumped up," Binger said. "It's always a dogfight when we play them. It's two smashmouth football teams."
Binger has rushed for 79 yards and scored four touchdowns. He has passed for 222 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Binger is starting to play more at safety. He isn't worried about taking a hit or making a tackle.
"At first when I got cleared, I was kind of scared - the last time I ran, my leg hurt. I didn't want that feeling again."
Binger isn't the only player for the Knights to return from injury. New Glarus-Monticello senior fullback Austin Schlueter is back after suffering a broken collarbone in a scrimmage. The Knights also have senior defensive tackle Efrain Segura back after he missed four games to start the season due to a cardio issue. Now, Binger and his healthy teammates are looking forward to the game against Cambridge.
"They like to put seven or eight guys in the box," Binger said of Cambridge. "The big thing is we have to sustain our blocks and sell out our fakes. It will be hard for Cambridge to stop us if we execute right.
"Each week I have got more accurate passing and improved my running and reads."
Binger was shocked to find out that among his 11 various hip injuries, he had a torn abductor tendon in his hip, a partially torn hip flexor, a bruised hip with fluid in the ball and socket and two bulging discs in his back.
"I started bawling my eyes out," Binger said. "They told me I wouldn't be able to play sports this year. I thought everything I worked for in high school was just taken from me."
Binger lost the explosion in his jumping ability and lost his speed and mobility during an AAU basketball tournament in Minnesota in July.
"I fell apart," he said. "I couldn't jump. I wasn't as fast. I wasn't as mobile."
Binger took one week off in hopes he could return to the basketball court. He played with New Glarus in a tournament in Oshkosh in August. He made it through one game but sat out the next five due to the pain.
"I have had some minor injuries before," Binger said. "I just thought I would sit out a couple of weeks and then come back to play football."
Binger underwent an MRI at the University of Wisconsin Health Sports Medicine Center in Madison. He still recalls the stunning results his parents gave him a couple weeks before the Glarner Knights season opener against Edgerton.
"They told me I couldn't play sports this year," Binger said. "It was big news. I was like "holy smokes.' I didn't really think I was that messed up.
"I accepted it and I knew I had to lead my team in a different way."
Binger isn't 100 percent certain what caused his hip injuries. He suspects the wear and tear from training for sports year-round took its toll.
"I have been training since eighth grade non-stop for four years," he said. "I didn't get any rest and that is what killed me."
After seven weeks of resting and sitting out football practices and games, Binger went back to the UW Health Sports Medicine Center for a checkup. A surgeon stretched him out and Binger was surprised that he was pain free.
Returning to play football became more than a pipe dream.
"The surgeon said it's kind of iffy," Binger recalled. "He said, "I don't know how long you will hold up.'"
Binger did do some upperbody weight lifting during his time off. He did some swimming and bike riding to keep his joints loose.
And then he returned to start at quarterback against Marshall Sept. 18. He has led the Knights (2-5, 2-1 Capitol South) to two straight wins over Belleville and Wisconsin Heights.
"It was phenomenal," Binger said. "It was just the right amount of rest I needed. Now, I'm just flying around. I was given another chance and I'm going to make the most of it.
"I have no pain at all. It's amazing. It's a blessing."
Binger will lead the Knights against Cambridge (4-3, 2-1 Capitol South) Friday. With one more win, the Knights can become postseason eligible.
"Everyone is so pumped up," Binger said. "It's always a dogfight when we play them. It's two smashmouth football teams."
Binger has rushed for 79 yards and scored four touchdowns. He has passed for 222 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Binger is starting to play more at safety. He isn't worried about taking a hit or making a tackle.
"At first when I got cleared, I was kind of scared - the last time I ran, my leg hurt. I didn't want that feeling again."
Binger isn't the only player for the Knights to return from injury. New Glarus-Monticello senior fullback Austin Schlueter is back after suffering a broken collarbone in a scrimmage. The Knights also have senior defensive tackle Efrain Segura back after he missed four games to start the season due to a cardio issue. Now, Binger and his healthy teammates are looking forward to the game against Cambridge.
"They like to put seven or eight guys in the box," Binger said of Cambridge. "The big thing is we have to sustain our blocks and sell out our fakes. It will be hard for Cambridge to stop us if we execute right.
"Each week I have got more accurate passing and improved my running and reads."
