Brackets are made all over the country. Online leagues become the talk of the town over the three week period. Students, young adults, and parents alike show their competitive sides while they frantically root for their chosen winners and ‘Cinderella’ stories. However, this NCAA College Basketball Tournament is different for our hometown basketball fans—Middletown High School has become involved.

For the first time ever, the administration at MHS has allowed and supported a bracket contest for the students and staff during the 2010 March Madness season. Because of a somewhat apparent connection to gambling, a school bracket challenge was never before allowed at MHS. As expected, the approval of such a widely popular contest brought the students and staff together in a cloud of excitement.

“I’m glad they put in the bracket tournament this year for Middletown students,” said MHS senior Ryan Harshman, “Even though online leagues are always thrilling, the school contest gives it more of a central location and a more competitive feel. Hearing the leaders from the morning announcements keeps us involved and it’s always interesting to see who’s winning between both the students and staff.”

Heading into the Final Four weekend, Judd Ziegler and Emily James hold the lead in the student challenge, while independent living teacher Alisa Gibson and sports guru Bob Sheffler hold the lead in the staff contest. The winner receives a $20 Sports Authority gift card.

Most others, however, have been greatly disappointed. With countless upsets and only one #1 seed advancing to the Final Four, almost every bracket has been busted. Kansas and Kentucky, the most popular winners picked by the nation in bracket challenges, have been eliminated and newcomers such as #5 seed Butler have surprised wannabe ‘bracketologists’ everywhere.

These crazy circumstances in March Madness 2010 have admittedly made some students lose hope and ultimately lose focus when it comes to their brackets.

“Ever since Kentucky lost, I gave up,” said MHS junior Josh Henry, “[and] honestly the only thing I care about now is Duke losing.”

 The tournament challenge will come to an end following the April 5^th National Championship. Who will win the final, the top seed in Duke? The local favorite in West Virginia? Or the underdog in Butler or Michigan State? Regardless, one thing is for sure: The MHS 2010 bracket challenge has been a success.

It was the end of August, the sun was shining and the crowd roared as the team pushed farther down the field for the first down.  The scene was picture-perfect, but something didn’t feel right.  Even before he took the field, Middletown High School sophomore Chris Pirrone was having bad thoughts about the scrimmage.  It happened during a pass play when he caught the ball.  Pirrone broke through one tackle, but just as he broke for the right corner of the end zone, he felt something pulling him back.  Cut out from underneath him, his legs were in the air and his body landed on the ground.

“Something felt like it was messed up, and I looked down at myself and saw my ankle out of place,” said Pirrone.

Seconds later, the coaches were on the field with him, holding his hand and trying to keep him from looking down again.  He lay for 20 minutes waiting for the ambulance as his shock numbed the pain.  It wasn’t until Pirrone was lifted into the ambulance that the real pain set in.

“Every bump on the way to the hospital caused a pain in my leg that was so dreadful,” he said. “That’s the last bit of the memory I have.  I woke up in the hospital, seeing the cast on my leg for the first time, and I thought to myself, ‘My season is over.’”

After suffering from a broken tibula and a crushed fibula, six screws and a metal plate were inserted into the ankle of Pirrone, now a junior. 

Unfortunately, his fibula was not the only thing that was crushed. 

His spirit and motivation were shot.  For a long time after the injury, Pirrone stayed in bed, feeling sorry for himself and sinking deeper into despair everyday.

It wasn’t until the support and words of encouragement from family and friends began to chisel away at his hardened attitude that Pirrone realized self pity would only make the situation worse.

He was still attending physical therapy and doctor appointments regularly, but with an all-new mind set.  Pirrone was ready to come back stronger than ever and nothing would stand in his way.

With the continuing support of family and friends, Pirrone made it to basketball season and was eager to take the court, but complications popped up relentlessly. 

The pain in his ankle was still regular, some days making it difficult to get out of bed.

Pirrone pushed through it, sometimes turning to his two main support systems, his mother Laura Pirrone and his MHS varsity basketball coach Tim Leber.

“I told him that you can’t control an injury. They just happen and it’s not about what happens to you; it’s about how you respond to it.  Chris didn’t sulk around. He got himself up and worked himself, which is easy to say but much harder to do,” said Leber.

Leber is always there when Pirrone needs a few words of inspiration, and his mother is always there to listen.

“For the most part, I try to keep the pain to myself and just vent to my mom about it when it really hurts,” said Pirrone.

As the cold days of winter faded away and another summer passed, Pirrone’s junior year started.

The hours of physical therapy and slow practices had been put in. His patience was worn thin but not broken.  It was finally time to take the field again.

Pirrone was raising his stats, carrying the ball almost every game.  Every yard was a success. His work and waiting had paid off.

It wasn’t until after his fourth game that Pirrone was again severely injured.  This time, it was his thigh, and it too required surgery.

Unlike the first injury, self pity was out of the question.  Pirrone was infuriated and couldn’t figure out why he was unable to escape injury. 

For the second season in a row, Pirrone was in and out of surgery and began another rehabilitation process.  With intense exercise and practice, he was up and running by the time basketball started.

This season has been one of Pirrone’s greatest.  Over winter break, MHS hosted the Ron Engle Classic basketball tournament.

Despite his injuries, Pirrone not only earned a spot in the All-Tournament team, he was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“You would never know what kind of injuries he suffers by watching the way he plays,” said MHS senior Sam Glushakow, who also made the All-Tournament team.

All of the time spent in bed, in rehab or physical therapy, and the hours spent watching games from the sideline are paying off for Pirrone this basketball season.

He is a key member of the team and many of his teammates say playing for the Knights wouldn’t be the same without him.

MHS senior Kevin Harris said that Pirrone “always contributes” and is “a player you can count on.”

 “It’s very scary facing an ankle injury one year and another freaky injury the next. I was so upset that I couldn’t play with my teams, but that’s over now,” said Pirrone.

Pirrone’s goal is to keep working hard to get both legs as strong as possible to avoid any future injuries. The past two have changed Pirrone as a person and as an athlete.

“It’s hard knowing that my thigh won’t ever be normal again and my ankle will always hurt.  It’s been over a year and I still have to get used to waking up with my ankle tight and sore. It made me realize that as an athlete, I really have to work for what I want now,” said Pirrone.

After persevering through two major setbacks, Pirrone has come out as a better athlete than ever before.  Next season, he looks to work even harder in hopes of college offers for basketball. 

The time and effort put into regaining strength and the emotional strain Pirrone has suffered give him an edge.

In the words of Leber, “Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”

As the 2009-10 boys basketball season nears, the Middletown High School varsity Knights work extra hard to ensure success.

Kevin Harris, a senior captain of the team, said, “We have potential and a hard-working veteran group.”

Despite a regular season record of 4-18 last year, “everyone seems to be optimistic about the season this year,” said Harris.

MHS freshman Zach Fontenot was very anxious when asked to be a member of the varsity team.

Fontenot feels “honored” because of all the hard work he has put into the sport, and is happy to accomplish this goal.

“Compared to middle school, we have to run more, and practice every day in order to get ready for the season. The level of play is much higher, and the players are quicker,” said Fontenot.

Harris and Fontenot both agree that the overall height of the team isn’t a strength, so as a group they will have to work on defense and boxing out. They will also need to add an overall tenacity to the team this year.

Harris says that the new members of the team such as Fontenot add “athleticism and depth, it’s nice to know the subs on the bench can contribute- not just the starters.”

The team hopes to have a countless number of fans at their games to keep their adrenalin up. Harris guarantees that every game will be a good one this year.

“Everyone knows their role, and we all mesh nicely,” said Harris.

Fontenot says he’s “just going to work hard and do what’s best for the team.”

Approaching the season with a hard-working mentality and a new-found optimism, the Knights will be fun to watch;they hope that a sucessful season lies ahead.