By Dan Guttenplan
Sports Editor
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NEWBURYPORT — Newburyport High School wide receiver Andrew Sokol was just beginning his most important athletic school year for recruiting purposes last September when he was tackled awkwardly by a North Reading special teams player in the second quarter of an eventual blowout in favor of the Clippers.
Sokol, then a junior, had made his presence felt since his freshman season, most noticeably with his breakaway speed and agility, but at that moment, he appeared to have limited flexibility in his knee and a limp as he attempted to walk to the sideline.
In an instant, Newburyport High's most heavily recruited junior's season, for all intents and purposes, was over. Gone was a football season in which he hoped to eclipse his own school record for single-season receiving yards (702, set in 2008). Gone appeared to be a junior lacrosse season that Sokol hoped to parlay into a college scholarship.
"When it happened, I always thought I'd never get hurt like that," Sokol said. "I was definitely down about it. I was very upset. A lot of people said it'd be nine months before I played again. I wanted to play lacrosse in six."
Sokol was medically cleared to return to the field in May — right around the six-month mark — after undergoing knee surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital last fall. The doctor who operated on him later provided arthroscopic surgery for Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker in January.
Sokol's surgery and subsequent rehabilitation at Anna Jaques Hospital was a success. He played in five games for the Newburyport High lacrosse team in the spring, working himself up to game speed after roughly six months of rehabilitation. He then played in lacrosse camps and showcases throughout the summer, drawing the eye of the UMass coaching staff.
"It was a very slow process," Sokol said. "I started out with range-of-motion exercises, and there was a lot of swelling at first. Then, a machine slowly moved my leg up and down. Then, I started the physical therapy with simple balance and strength. Progressively, each month, I got stronger and stronger."
Less than a year later, Sokol claims to be fully recovered from one of the most serious of knee injuries, a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He has accepted a partial lacrosse scholarship at UMass Amherst with the understanding that he could increase the amount of the scholarship each collegiate season if his play warrants it. Newburyport football coach Ed Gaudiano said his projected starting wide receiver is taking precautions to keep the surgically repaired knee intact this football season.
"He's got a big brace on his knee, and between that and the rehab he's done, it's probably the strongest part of his body," Gaudiano said. "He still plays fast. I don't think you can really judge his progress until we get on the field for a game, but what stood out in our one scrimmage is he's still elusive when he runs."
Although he will not be playing football in college, Sokol said he put little thought into returning to the football team for his senior season.
"I love football. I always have," Sokol said. "I love the atmosphere and the kids I play with. I just thought it'd be a good way to go out my senior year. I'll play for all of the kids on the team. I don't want my knee to be a restriction, and I'd be bored out of my mind if I didn't play."
Gaudiano believes Sokol is making the correct choice in returning as a senior leader this fall.
"I don't think he'll hurt that knee again," Gaudiano said. "That's crept into athletics more and more — kids going to play this sport in college so they don't play another sport anymore. Andrew's a kid that's remained loyal to the school and the sports teams. That's the type of kid we need. Those are the ones who are successful at the next level. Technically, he doesn't have to even play lacrosse for us next spring; UMass knows how good he is. But I think playing football and lacrosse as a senior will be good for him."
