This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Haverford H.S. Linebacker Pushes Through Pain For Team

After Chris Lee suffered a break in his lower back in his sophomore year, now the senior lineback for the Haverford High School Fords wants to do his part for his team.

Chris Lee is the definition of what high school football is all about. This will probably be it with football for the 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior linebacker.

He most likely won’t play in college (though his 3.9 GPA and 1,960 score on the 2,400 SAT guarantees him a place at whatever elite school he’d like to attend).

But Lee does live and breathe every second when he is on the field. It’s understandable, considering Lee suffered a break in his lower back his sophomore year that required him to wear hard-plastic body brace from under his arm pits to the top of his hips. Doctors suggested to Lee that he never play football again.

Find out what's happening in Haverford-Havertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lee heard it, and refused to be denied.

“Life without football was kind of empty; I took it into my own hands and it was worth the risk for me,” said Lee, the Fords’ special team’s captain and starting linebacker.

Find out what's happening in Haverford-Havertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Haverford football is something that I lived for. If I got hurt on the football field, it would have been worth it. It’s why I wore that hard plastic body brace 23-hours a day, even when I was lifting weights. 

“I think a reason why I play the way I do is because this is it. We can’t afford to lose. We play relentless football, and we’re a proud team. We know there’s no room for error. I play with a degree of pain, but it’s manageable pain, a little here and there. But it’s football; hard-nosed football. Everyone plays with injuries. It’s what Haverford football is all about.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?