Shoulder Hinders freshman

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

His right arm is immobilized but his enthusiasm is not.

Purdue men's tennis player Seth McKinley injured his right shoulder during the fall and had surgery on it over winter break.

"It was a big letdown because I think we have a really great team this year," said McKinley.

But the freshman who went 7-3 in the fall season for the Boilers said he understands the situation and he didn't want to jeopardize his health by not having the surgery. McKinley said the good thing is that the team has depth.

"We should do really well this year," said McKinley. "Because of that, it didn't make (the surgery) as (bad)."

That kind of attitude is what Purdue coach Tim Madden likes about McKinley.

"I think he has special skills in the enthusiasm department," said Madden.

"He has made an effort to help at practices, conditioning and meets. He has shown great team leadership through his surgery."

McKinley's problem started in the fall as he changed his serve from a slow, slicing swing to an accelerating one. He stopped playing singles and only played doubles until his mid-season surgery.

Madden said he doesn't know if the injury came first or if the new accelerating swing caused the injury.

"(The pain) started bothering me in October during the Boiler Invitational," McKinley said. "I had sharp pain in the shoulder shooting down to my elbow next week in practice. (The doctors) thought it had something to do with the nerve and they were right."

During the surgery, the doctor found two cysts hampering the nerve in question. The doctor removed the cysts and also repaired torn cartilage. McKinley goes back to the doctor next Tuesday and if the prognosis is good, he will start free motion and rehabilitation. McKinley said it may be another month or so before he even does anything on the tennis court.

McKinley said he was hoping to be in the singles and doubles lineup this semester so he could help the team. Madden also said he was fully expecting McKinley to be in the starting lineup. However, Madden said McKinley will be able to learn certain technical and emotional skills he can only get from the sidelines.

"I think Seth McKinley is a winner," Madden said. "He'll do what it takes to come back."

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