Football: Garret Dressel’s comeback story

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Here’s the comeback story of the season. Back in September, standout senior receiver-defensive back Garret Dressel from Placentia El Dorado suffered what appeared to be was a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in a scrimmage against Corona Roosevelt.

So how in the name of modern medicine was Dressel back on the field last Friday night catching four passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Villa Park without having surgery?

‘I didn’t want to live the rest of my life wondering what if,’ Dressel said.

He purchased a knee brace and got permission from his doctor to play despite warnings that he could further damage his knee and end up with arthritis later in life.

He and his parents had long talks before making the decision. Dressel still must have surgery when the season is over, but he plans to keep playing and crossing his fingers that nothing bad is going to happen.

‘We have mixed feelings ourselves in the whole deal,’ said Dressel’s father, Doug.

Back in September, the family was devastated by the injury. ‘You’re kidding me,’ his father said. ‘It’s his senior year and he’s not going to get a snap from scrimmage.’

Two doctors told Dressel his season was over and to have surgery. But he had no swelling on his knee and was walking fine, so he refused to give up. His father found a knee brace and got a third doctor’s opinion.

Dressel knows he must be careful. When he felt his knee was tweaked, he took himself out of the game in the third quarter. He felt fine this weekend. Everyone knows there’s a risk involved.

‘We’ve been on a roller coaster ride,’ his father said. ‘Things took a turn for the better right now, but once the surgery comes, we might find out it wasn’t a great idea.’

It was a tough call, but Dressel made it, and let’s hope everything works out.

-- Eric Sondheimer