Ward Melville's Ryan all the way back after injury

One by one, Ward Melville players and coaches stopped by the bench, patting Jimmy Ryan on the shoulder and asking the same question: "You OK, Jimmy?" Ryan, helmet off, gulping water on the unseasonably hot afternoon of April 27, offered the same determined reply: "I'm fine."

The Ward Melville senior lacrosse captain and two-way midfielder didn't mind the concern. Ryan was just glad the questions were about his stamina and not his back.

"I played a lot of minutes and they wanted to be sure I wasn't tired," he said after a magnificent effort in which he scored two goals, added two assists, played three positions and helped the Patriots register a 13-8 victory over Smithtown West.

There was far more serious concern about Ryan in February 2009 when, on the first day of practice, he suffered a back injury that jeopardized his high school career, his pending lacrosse scholarship to Colgate and his long-range health.

"It was a fractured L-4 vertebra," he said. "I was taking a shot and the force of the shot was a final blow to the vertebra. The doctors thought I had a pre-existing injury."

When he was told he would miss his entire junior season, Ryan was crushed. "Oh, yeah, it was very disappointing. I was ready to have a big year," he said. "But things like that happen, and I was lucky enough to be able to come back and play."

The road back was arduous. Ryan was in a back brace for two months before being cleared for physical therapy. Then came a vigorous stretching program and core exercises. He was a model patient.

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Doctors and trainers told him he would not be able to compete for six months, but in about half that time, he was cleared to participate in last spring's Suffolk playoff semifinals and final. Ryan was used only as a defensive midfielder, but his mere presence was an inspiration - then as now.

"He's got incredible leadership. I look up to him. We all do," teammate Sean Cleary said.

Coach Mike Hoppey called Ryan "one of the top kids we've ever had here," which is saying a lot because Ward Melville is one of the most storied lacrosse programs in the country. "He does all the right things on and off the field. He's a great example of what we look for in a captain. He was around us all the time last year. He worked so hard to be able to get back for those last couple of games. That was a lesson for everyone."

There were several driving forces in Ryan's comeback. He loves lacrosse, he loves his teammates and he had something to prove to Colgate.

"I committed before the injury but the scholarship wasn't officially offered until after," Ryan said. "They stuck by me. I told the coach that it wasn't going to affect me long-term and that I would be able to come back and play. I didn't know when, but he trusted me."

Ryan felt so good after playing on last summer's lacrosse circuit that he returned to the Ward Melville football team. He was the team's leading rusher, even though he potentially was putting himself at risk.

"A lot of people told me that maybe I shouldn't play football," he said. "But in my heart, I really felt I could play. I was named captain of the team and I didn't want to go out like that . I love football. I'm going to miss it. I couldn't imagine not playing, especially knowing it was going to be my last year."

Clearly, it's not going to be his last year of lacrosse. With help from Ryan, Ward Melville is considered one of the few challengers to defending state champion West Islip. He has averaged two points a game and, more importantly, is an excellent defensive middie.

"He might be one of the best short-stick defenders we've ever had at Melville," Hoppey said. "He does a great job clearing the ball. Great eyes. I think the only thing that is not quite back all the way is his shooting. That's to be expected. It was a serious injury. But that's starting to come around. He still gets a lot of respect from other teams. He gets poled every game. They know about him."

And they all know the same thing: Jimmy Ryan is fine.