South Fork athlete Has Finger Re-attached after Football Injury
De-Gloving 'Bizarre injury' sidelines South Fork linebacker
May 17, 2007
South Fork linebacker Will Claunch suffered an unusual and serious injury in the school's intrasquad football scrimmage Friday.
While trying to make a tackle, he wedged his right middle finger in the drawstring on the pants of running back Zeke White. Claunch suffered so much damage to the tissue of his finger that doctors had to sew his finger to a flap of skin below his abdomen temporarily to encourage blood flow in the hopes of regenerating the tissue.
"That was one of the most bizarre injuries I've ever seen," South Fork coach Dennis Lavelle said.
Claunch has to keep the finger attached for two weeks, and then doctors will further examine the situation. Claunch said he could lose the finger if he does not recover as doctors hope.
"The first day after it happened, it was really depressing. I thought my sports career might be over," said Claunch, who will be a senior next year. "But the second day, after I got out of the hospital and friends and family were around me, I felt much better."
Claunch, who also was the starting left fielder for the South Fork baseball team, said he doesn't anticipate returning to school until the fall.
"I can't sit up straight," he said. "I can only stand for a limited period of time."
LOUISVILLE CONNECTION
Area golf shops might have to begin stocking their stores with University of Louisville merchandise if the current trend continues. Earlier this month, Palm City's Johnny Delprete signed with Louisville, becoming the fourth Martin County golfer in three years to sign with the school.
Delprete played for Martin County as a freshman and for The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens for his last three years of high school.
He is preceded at Louisville by twin brothers Derek and Daryl Fathauer, Martin County graduates, and Martin County graduate Andrew Freeman, who attended Tulane before transferring to Louisville.
The Fathauers and Freeman will be seniors next fall.
"It's going be like freshman year all over again," Delprete said. "I have a pretty good friendship with all of them, so it should be a good time."
