Share

Tweet

Click here for the latest Team USA news, scores and Facebook updates.

Nadelen '100 Percent Sure' He Will Play

by Justin Feil | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online | Gone Campin' Blog

U.S. team defenseman Shawn Nadelen, just five months removed from ACL surgery, says he feels strong enough to compete at world championships. Team USA coaches are closely monitoring his progress at training camp, where Parker McKee or Lee Zink could earn a roster spot in his stead. © John Mecionis

Five months ago, there were serious doubts whether Shawn Nadelen would be ready for the FIL World Championships after he suffered a torn ACL in a game with the Philadelphia Wings.

Nadelen, though, did not doubt in mid-January when he suffered the injury and does not now. On the eve of training camp, currently transpiring at Bryant University, Nadelen was ready to prove he belongs on the field when Team USA tries to reclaim the world title when play begins July 16 in Manchester, England.

“I’m 100 percent sure,” Nadelen said. “They’re going to have to do everything they can to not allow me to go over and play in those games. I’ve continued to condition myself and keep a stick in my hands. They’ll be a little heavier on me to see how I respond. I don’t think you’ll find anyone more dedicated and ready to take this thing and get over there.”

Nadelen was back in uniform for Team USA’s exhibition against the Philadelphia All-Stars on June 19, almost exactly five months to the day since injuring the knee.

“Actually being physically out on the field and playing the game was a huge relief,” Nadelen said. “And seeing how it responded, the way I responded and the way I felt gave me a lot of confidence and told me I’m ready to go. It was great to be back on the field with the team.”

Nadelen’s singular focus through a rigorous rehabilitation was the chance to represent the U.S. for the first time at the world Championships. he passed up the chance to try out in 2006, when Canada won the championship.

“It’s been something I regretted,” Nadelen said. “Having seen them lose the gold up in Canada, that frustrated me so much.

“The thought maybe once or twice crossed my mind that I wasn’t going to be able to do it,” he said of returning from injury. “That was never an option in my book. Looking four years down the road, opportunities are so few and far between, I was looking at this as my one and only shot. This is an amazing opportunity. There was no way I was going to lay down and let it pass me by.”

Team USA needs Nadelen, a renowned tough guy, to be 100 percent healthy. He figures prominently in their plans to try to slow opposing attacks.

“We hope Shawn is a guy who can match up with those big strong righties,” said Team USA head coach Mike Pressler. “We have to see where Shawn’s at. Everything is open-ended.

“We have two alternates – Parker McKee and Lee Zink. They’re two great defensemen. Two different defensemen than Shawn. We prepared by bringing those two players to camp.”

Nadelen wasted no time in beginning his recovery. His intensive rehabilitation was overseen by Team USA’s Dr. Leslie Matthews, as well as Nadelen’s wife, Mary, a certified athletic trainer who works at Towson, and Michael Higgins, a professor of kinesiology and director of sports medicine at Towson, where Nadelen is an assistant coach for the men’s team.

Five days after he was injured, the torn ACL showed up on an MRI.

“The frustration was there obviously,” Shawn Nadelen said. “Not more than five minutes after, I said, let’s get this thing going. Let’s get surgery and let’s get back. The fortunate thing was that it happened at that time and I was able to have enough time between then and the games to get back.”

The first two and a half weeks were draining mentally and physically. Nadelen woke up every two hours to ice and stretch the knee. Since then, he has devoted at least two hours every day to rehabbing the knee. After his first game back, his knee wasn’t an issue.

“I’ve been doing some pretty serious workouts so it didn’t swell up,” he said. “It was a little sore. It was about the same soreness as in the past. The biggest issue was how sore my body was after playing for the first time in about four and a half months. Waking up the next morning, I wasn’t moving the quickest.”

Rehab has been a steady process. Nadelen had targeted a return the first week of June, but came back in time to get an exhibition in before training camp.

“I was kind of hitting the target times and points I needed to,” he said. “There was a rough patch for a week and a half where the knee was acting up and wasn’t responding well. That put some frustrating thoughts in my head, but it ended up balancing out well.”

Nadelen has found a silver lining in the injury in the way that he’s been forced to work to come back. He will have to use the training camp to shake off some rust, but he is fitter than he has been in years.

“Surprisingly, I’m down to my high school and college playing weight,” Nadelen said. “I lost about 18-20 pounds after the surgery. I put it back on in the weight room from being strong. I feel very strong and efficient with my body right now.

“Going against some of the matchups I foresee, I think it works out well in my favor. I don’t see many of the guys we’ll face with the college speed we faced [against Philadelphia]. A lot of the guys are more of the power and strength kind. My strength has been good and my feet are under me and I’m feeling very healthy.”

Nobody in training camp will be tested more than Nadelen. He was selected to Team USA’s final roster when he was fully healthy. He has to prove himself again before the worlds begin.

“We only took six defensemen of the 23,” Pressler said. “We’re a little limited number-wise. We need all six full-go. Shawn has earned the right to come back from this thing. If there’s one guy that can make it back from this injury in short notice, it’s Shawn Nadelen.

“ACL injuries are eight months back to a year. There’s some freaks of nature that have made it back to a high level quicker than that. If there’s someone that can do it, it’s Shawn Nadelen.”