Soccer player makes comeback

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

For the Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s soccer team, former Madisonville-North Hopkins soccer star Ben Clayton’s healthy ankle may be the cure to an ailing program.

Clayton suffered two separate season-ending injuries in 2006 and 2007, but he has rehabilitated through it all and plans to make a long-awaited comeback this fall for the Panthers.

“It’s great being able to play again and get out there and try to come back from two injuries,” Clayton said. “I’m looking forward to the fall, and hopefully things go well.”

Although Clayton has been cleared to play by doctors since April, he has overcome a lot to reach that point. Clayton started just two games during his freshman season before injuring his ankle and receiving a medical redshirt.

While at practice, one of Clayton’s teammates caught the former Maroon from behind, and the collision sent his leg crashing straight to the ground.

“I didn’t think it was broken,” Clayton said. “I just thought it was a bad sprain. We went to the emergency room and a couple hours later they told me it’s broken.”

The result was a spiral fracture that sidelined Clayton through the end of the year.

After Clayton’s ankle healed, he went through rehab and began to prepare for a comeback in 2007. This time, Clayton didn’t even start a game before he was once again shut down for the season.

During a preseason practice, Clayton felt pain in the leg that gave him trouble the previous year.

“It was actually the same foot, my ankle,” he said. “They call it bone bruising though, it was inflammation of the cartilage.”

Clayton’s comeback was put on hold for another season.

For Clayton’s former high school coach, John Tichenor, there was never any doubt Clayton would continue his plans to return to collegiate soccer.

“There’s a lot of kids that could have had that kind of injury and they would have just probably thrown in the towel,” Tichenor said, “but that’s not the type of kid he is. He didn’t bow out or anything like that. He just did his rehabilitation.”

Clayton, who helps Tichenor teach soccer youth camps during the summer, knew his former coach could help him through the situation.

“He’s always been there to help me get through anything I’ve ever needed to get through,” Clayton said. “He’s a great role model, and I’ve always looked to him for advice on many things other than soccer.”

Now healthy, things haven’t looked this bright for Clayton or the Panthers in a long time.

Kentucky Wesleyan’s soccer team has not won multiple league games or placed above last in the Great Lakes Valley Conference since 2000, but Clayton thinks the program has been making the right steps for a successful future.

“A lot of good things have been happening in our organization,” Clayton said. “We got a new coach, we recruited a lot of players that are supposed to have high hopes. A lot of things are going on at Wesleyan, so hopefully in the next couple years we’ll be doing a lot better as a squad.”

Although Wesleyan has struggled recently, Tichenor said he thinks Clayton can be the team’s spark to winning ways.

“He’ll bring a lot to their attack offensively,” Tichenor said. “He’s a player that is capable of scoring goals and he’s also capable of creating situations for other players to score goals. He’s a wonderful playmaker. He’s just going to bring some more offensive stability to that Wesleyan attack.”

Clayton, who will be exercising his second year of eligibility, has much more modest goals for himself this season.

“I’m pretty excited and a little hesitant,” he said. “My main goal is to play a complete season without any injury. My main goal right now is to stay healthy.”

Clayton will make his return when the Panthers visit Southern Indiana at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 in Evansville.

nbrockman@the-messenger.com