Brody Nieuwkoop is a sophomore at FHC who plays football and lacrosse and is very talented at both of them. He has been playing football since 5th grade and lacrosse since 6th. Nieuwkoop, unfortunately, acquired a bulging disk in his back during his first season of Varsity lacrosse. He was injured for this entire football season and is hoping to be back for his second season of varsity lacrosse.
This season, Nieuwkoop will have to watch his team compete without him from the sideline and be the best supporter he can be. He knows the impact that this will have on his team.
“Being on the sideline helps the team because it helps encourage the team and coach them from the sideline,” said Nieuwkoop.
Nieuwkoop was one of the most dynamic players last year on the freshman team, and after he was moved up for the playoff run, he was one of two freshmen to be a part of the state championship team. The JV team is off to a mediocre start, with their record being 2-3.
Ben Campbell, another JV football player, knows the impact Nieuwkoop has on the team, even from off the field.
“He is a great leader from the sidelines and is a good motivator,” said Campbell.
You can see that if Nieuwkoop is on or off the field, he is a leader either way.
Nieuwkoop explained his injury as a bulging disk in his back that is pinching a nerve that reaches his lower back and right leg. He acquired this injury halfway through the previous lacrosse season.
“The best way I can improve my injury is to take time off. Rest and time are the most effective ways to heal it,” said Nieuwkoop.
For the lacrosse team, Nieuwkoop played midfield for the games he wasn’t injured. He also played the season with his older brother, and they played in the midfield together. For the rest of the season, Nieuwkoop did suit up, but he didn’t realize how serious the injury was at that time. Now, he hopes to return for the first game this spring.
For the football team, Nieuwkoop was the starting running back and one of the starting linebackers. No matter if it was defense or offense, he was always there. Niuewkoop should be back in a few months from now, which would be early into the lacrosse season or maybe even before.
With Nieuwkoop set to make his returning debut soon, it’s obvious that there are some things he’s looking forward to.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the guys again and making more new connections with all of them,” said Nieuwkoop. “I’m also excited to get back to work, again, and work on my skill as an individual player. I hope to go far in this year’s season.”
Last year the Ranger lacrosse team fell one game short of the State championship game in Ann Arbor, losing to their in-town rivals, Forest Hills Eastern. Nieuwkoop didn’t play that game, so for this season, he is hoping to stay healthy so he can be a part of another hopeful playoff run again this year.
“I’m hoping to become more of a team player and going to try and score goals when my team needs it most,” said Nieuwkoop.
With the JV football team off to an okay start, Nieuwkoop is trying to do whatever he can to help them improve. Nieuwkoop said that this year, their passing game has improved a lot with Blake Teliczan at quarterback.
“One thing that is gonna help us win more games this season is our teamwork and our competitiveness; competing against ourselves at practice is what is going help us get ready for the tougher games on our schedule,” Nieuwkoop said.
JV/Varsity football player Patrick Carpenter also recognized Nieuwkoop’s leadership at practice and what he does on a daily basis at football.
“He’s a big piece of our team, and we would be way more successful with him on the field. Under his circumstances, he still shows up to practice every day to coach us up and help us run drills,” said Carpenter.
Other JV players have also said that he works hard, and you can tell that he wants to come back as soon as possible.
