Contributing Writer Amir Abdelrady
Alexander Villegas, a midfielder and attack-man on the Hood College Men’s lacrosse team set new standards as he first stepped on the field against Rosemont.
“Our first game was an away game, which made me more nervous than I usually would be,” said Villegas. “Not only that, but it was really cold, so trying to get your joints fluid and working correctly in that weather really sucked.”
Villegas walked off the field for his first time in a collegiate level lacrosse game leading the team with 2 goals and 3 assists.
“The first game helped me feel comfortable on the field,” saidVillegas. “I went a little harder in practice, and tried new things.”
Villegas continued showing huge possibility. He finished the month of February with five goals and one assist, the month of March with five goals and seven assists, and finally, the month of April with six goals and eight assists.
These accomplishments put him as third overall team ranking, and first of the 2013 class.
Unfortunately, Villegas reveals that during the last month or so, he had no choice but to play with Bursitis in both of his knees: an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in the joints.
“The levels of pain were so severe that it resulted in relying on Advil or Tylenol hours before the game, just because I knew I was about to suffer,” Villegas said. “Towards the end of the season, I had both my knees drained, and I was back to normal.”
Jesse Bronson, Villegas’ roommate, shared a few words on Villegas suffering from Bursitis.
“He was obviously in pain, and for weeks at a time,” Bronson mentions. “I could hear him limping around the house, barely able to go up and down the stairs comfortably.”
Villegas cut in to mention about how he was too busy with Lacrosse to obtain the proper medical treatment.
Villegas said, “I did what I could though. I went to physical therapy and put draining my knees off as long as I needed to.”
By sophomore year, however, Villegas was back in shape and ready to play. His stats reflected an athlete who didn’t let an injury hold them back as he was at 10 goals and 4 assists by the middle of the season.
However, shortly after the mid-way point in the season, Villegas severely sprained his ankle, and was out of commission for two weeks. He finished the season off with 17 goals and eight assists.
“It was a bummer,” says Villegas. “I came in really trying to make a change, but I kept getting hurt.”
Villegas continued onto his junior year without any injuries, and finished his third year with 20 goals and 5 assists. His overall total after his third year was 58 goals and 26 assists.
Nick Drillinger, Villegas’ teammate, felt that Villegas was getting to where he needs to be physically and mentally for his upcoming senior and final year of College Lacrosse.
“We both came in together as freshmen, and we have seen each other progress,” says Drillinger. “Now that we are the seniors, it feels that we have a lot to prove and have a higher level of expectations.”
Villegas agrees as he mentions that he is in his best shape in his college career, and still has fall ball to sharpen his skills. Not only that, but he has multiple months to keeping working at getting in the best shape possible.
“All I can say is that I am currently sitting at five points away from holding the “all-time scoring” title,” concludes Villegas. “I am definitely ready to do whatever it takes to earn that before I graduate.”
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