Every Friday night, students and local Newtonians gather to watch the Newton Railer football team take on local opponents. However, due to the risky nature of the contact sport, injuries arise that impact new players every season. This year alone, injuries have ended the season for three senior starters on the football team.
Seniors Justin Zerger, Dellen Claassen and Landon Pfannenstiel are all out for their last football season due to large, impactful injuries. Between Zerger’s torn labrum in his shoulder, Claassen’s broken collarbone and Pfannenstiel’s ACL meniscus tear, these players have had to learn to adapt to a season on the sidelines, where they still make sure to help out the team.
“I am kind of the hype-man on the sidelines, so I get people up and moving around and keep people engaged in the game,” Zerger said.
Due to the numerous injuries this season, the Newton coaching staff has had to reevaluate the positions of starting players.
“We lost the only returning starting receiver, main backup DB and several other special teams positions,” Claassen said.
It can be difficult to watch another player fill your position, especially since the three seniors were all supposed to be starters this year. Pfannenstiel has made it a point to encourage those filling in for his position and has given them a lot of helpful advice.
“I’ve told multiple people who have filled my position to go out and hit the person in front of you as hard as you can,” Pfannenstiel said. “Do your job and you’ll do amazing.”
While the injured seniors found it very unfortunate that they couldn’t spend their final season out on the field, they have learned a lot from being on the sidelines. Pfannenstiel learned this year just how much help the sideline provides the team.
“I’ve learned that a lot of help comes from the sideline. The energy helps out the team,” Pfannenstiel said. “Giving mental support and helping players stretch from cramps is all the importance from the sideline.”
The injuries have also affected the player’s personal lives. Their schedules have changed, due to not being required to attend football practice all of the time. Though this season has made Zerger realize how much he loves football, he has also found some personal benefits from the extra free time.
“Personally, I have gotten so much more homework done because I don’t have to worry about football practice,” Zerger said. “It has also been good because it has helped me learn how to overcome hard things.”
At the end of the day, even though these players have found ways to help the team from the sidelines, they would still prefer to be out on the field playing their senior years.
“It’s a real bummer that I’m out this season, I really would’ve loved to play my senior year with my friends,” Pfannenstiel said. “Football was my favorite sport and I loved playing it with my friends. I’ll look forward to watching them from the sidelines and cheering them on. I believe they will be successful.”
