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David Lighty
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Lighty Tears ACL
By Kyle Lamb
Date: Mar 9, 2005
One of Ohio's outstanding athletes has suffered an unfortunate injury. Junior David Lighty of Cleveland VA-SJ has suffered a torn ACL. Kyle Lamb caught up with Lighty to discuss the injury.
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Bucknuts learned this afternoon that Cleveland (Ohio) Villa Angela-St. Joseph's star
David Lighty had to go in this morning for an MRI on his knee from an injury suffered in Friday night's District final game. The results were not good.
We spoke with Lighty early Wednesday evening, and he confirmed the worst-case scenario.
"Yeah, basically they said I tore my ACL," a very disappointed Lighty said. "I'm really bummed."
Lighty, who averaged nearly 24 points a game this season, suffered a fall in the 3rd quarter of Friday night's game, and continued to play on it despite the pain. Over the weekend, he realized it might be something worse.
So this morning, Lighty went in for an MRI, and that's when he learned of his fate. Thus far, he's had the chance to talk to very few people about the specifics.
"Michigan and Ohio State know about it, but that's really about it since we just found out this morning," Lighty said.
The unfortunate injury to Lighty gives the Division III race in Ohio suddenly an open invitation for Cincinnati North College Hill, led by
O.J. Mayo and
Bill Walker, to have a clear path to the championship, with Villa Angela-St. Joe's being without Lighty and Richard Semrau's Lutheran West team being eliminated already.
Lighty, who still is thinking about Ohio State, Michigan, Syracuse, Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona, had the opportunity to watch a little bit of Ohio State's upset victory of Illinois on Sunday.
"Yeah I saw the end of it, what a great game," Lighty said. "It was really great. They (Ohio State) played perfect at the end. It was an awesome win."
"I guess I was a little surprised, but I knew they could pull it out," he added.
Lighty will return to the doctor within the next week to find out whether or not surgery will be necessary. Right now, he's tentatively expecting to be out between four and six months before a full recovery.
We will monitor the situation.
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