Michael Danyluk '16 Recruiting Profile

August of 2014 I tore my meniscus playing a friendly game of water polo in the pool. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but it did. I didn't  actually think anything too terribly of it, after about a week of rest ice compression and elevation I thought I was all good to keep going. I continued on with the Cross Country season not wanting to fall out of shape before winter began. But towards the end of the season I tried hurdling again and my knee kept hurting. I went to the doctor and got an MRI, to find out I tore my meniscus. Also at the end of the season, I developed a stress fracture in my left foot, bringing my Cross country season to a close. The day winter track began I, instead of spending it out on the track, spent in the hospital for surgery on my right meniscus. For the entire month of December, I was on crutches walking on a stress fracture because my knee couldn't move. Instead of being a top competitor in the winter season, I was a top cripple. As the season was ending I was able to start running again and when I began, my "stress fracture" kept hurting. After returning to the doctor I got another MRI and have recently been diagnosed with a benign hemangioma in the left foot. Since there isn't really anything they can do for it because to remove it would cause more harm than good, I continued on with the season fighting the severe pain that ensues every now and then. At our teams invite the Gold Rush, I sprained my ankle triple jumping. I decided to not let this slow me down however, because the team needs me. Coming back finally after the knee foot and ankle, I could no longer hurdle or triple jump but I knew I could still somehow be of use. I spent a week training for the 400, and got placed on the 4x4 at Loucks. Lead leg. I went out with the pack, and after about 50 meters into the race bam. Pulled hamstring. Continue on with physical therapy, in hope that Ill be able to spring back fast enough for sections or state quals. Thats my story, and if you managed to finish reading it to here I'd be impressed because I sound like a piece of useless glass. The reason I'm sharing this with you is because while I put myself through all this bodily abuse it was all for one reason. Not for my own gain, but I felt like the team needed me, and I wont abandon my team.