Worth the wait

Aug. 14, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ\Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER -- The first game of the season for any senior is always thrilling. The bittersweet emotions of the first game of the last season of the prep career, combined with the thrill of the beginning.

The first game of the 2005 season is especially important to Palmer lineman Tory Johnson.

He has been waiting a year for it.

After missing his entire senior season last year, because of an off the field accident, Johnson decided to return to Palmer High School for an extra year, and was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the school and the Alaska Schools Activities Association.

After spending two years in the varsity starting lineup, Johnson was set to enter the 2004 season as a senior, and the top lineman on the Palmer Moose squad. But just two weeks before preseason practice was set to begin, Johnson was injured in a dirt bike accident, and suffered major damage to his elbow and a broken collarbone. He had surgery, a metal pin was placed in his arm and, at minimum, he would miss the entire regular season.

"It was hard, really hard," Johnson said after Palmer's 56-14 win over Kodiak on Friday.

So Johnson, wearing a sling on his arm, had to sit and watch, as his teammates battled through the 2004 season. There were butterflies in his stomach, mixed feelings about what had happened.

"At the time I regretted it," Johnson said. "But now I look at it as being a blessing in disguise."

Regardless, Johnson did not want his football career at Palmer High to be over. He wanted to have an appropriate finish. So he decided to put off graduation for a year, and apply for a fifth year of eligibility.

Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen admits, as a general rule, he doesn't necessarily agree with the fifth-year waiver, but considers it from a case by case basis.

"I don't really recommend it to anyone, but that's what Tory felt he needed to do, and wanted to do. And we supported him," Christiansen said. "Tory was a team leader getting ready for the season when he had his unfortunate accident."

Christiansen and the Palmer coaching staff did support Johnson. He wrote a letter in support of the decision. That letter accompanied others written by his family and doctor, and was submitted to ASAA.

Academically, Johnson said he has the number of credits it takes to graduate, but chose not to enroll in a government class that is required to be taken and passed by every senior. Johnson said his decision to seek the fifth-year was easier because he had the support of everyone around him. For now, Johnson might be one of the last to even be considered for an extra year. The ASAA has since past provisions allow only four years of eligibility.

Even though Johnson is postponing his future after high school for a year, his decision directly parallels his desires for his future.

"It's a better opportunity for college scholarships," Johnson said.

Much of Johnson's work during his prep career, has been to prepare for the opportunity to have a college football career.

"At this point, I think there are a lot of places he can play," Christiansen said.

In addition to facing the decision of whether to return for another year, Johnson also had to recover from an injury that left half his upper body virtually immobile. Christiansen said even in the testing during the spring, Johnson was a bit tentative with the injured shoulder. But now, as he starts the season, Christiansen said he would call Johnson at, or very near 100 percent.

To return from the injury, Johnson has dedicated himself to workouts -- his preparations.

"Tons and tons of weightlifting," Johnson said. "The entire summer with the team doing plyometrics. Before that I'd show up early and do plyos."

That work ethic is the biggest advantage to having Johnson back, Christiansen said.

"He brings great team leadership," Christiansen said.

Christiansen gave Johnson an award prior to Palmer's win over Kodiak, acknowledging him for his preparation. After the Moose scrimmaged Houston High School last week, the team ran sprints, and Johnson, at more than 270 pounds, was the first to complete. Christiansen that is an example of how much work Johnson had put in, in the offseason.

For Johnson, it is also another opportunity to help lead Palmer to a possible championship. With a small senior class last year, many of Johnson's peers make up the 2005 Moose football senior class.

And as Johnson ran out onto the field as part of the Palmer starting lineup, he said it felt like it always did. Two years ago. The same as when he left.

It was a long wait, but in Johnson's eyes. It was worth the wait.