Kingfisher’s Crosswhite back after tough break
KINGFISHER — Cole Crosswhite just wanted to show his support.
As the Kingfisher Yellowjackets took the field on Monday for the first day of practice, perhaps nobody was more excited to be getting back to football than the senior running back.
“It just feels great,” Crosswhite said. “I woke up this morning, and I was crying tears of joys basically.”
The reason for Crosswhite’s jubilation is fairly simple. He now knows what it’s like to not be able to play.
The Kingfisher running back was forced to the sideline last year after suffering a broken arm on the first series of a firstround playoff game.
Crosswhite had been trying to evade a Douglass defender when he leapt in the air, was upended by a second defender and came down wrong on his left arm.
The result was a fracture of the radius and ulna in his forearm, surgery that required two plates, 13 screws and weeks of rehab.
Crosswhite remained undaunted. The day after surgery, and still a little loopy from pain killers, Crosswhite was back at Kingfisher practice to help cheer on his guys.
“That was a pretty severe break, and there was zero expectation from any of us that he should come to practice,” coach Jeff Myers said. “But he just showed up. His presence and attitude and making sure the players stayed engaged was like he had pads on.
“That’s just the way he’s wired.”
Crosswhite’s time away from the field was not wasted. Once healthy enough, the 5-foot-8 scatback got in the weight room. He says he’s added about 15 pounds of muscle and is up to 170 in hopes of better withstanding the hits to come this season as Kingfisher competes for a Class 4A title.
When he is on the field, Crosswhite has proved to be an electric playmaker. Last season, Crosswhite had more than 1,700 total yards and 15 touchdowns. For his career, he's less than 300 yards shy of 3,000 yards rushing. He has become a dangerous pass catcher out of the backfield, too.
“His competitiveness and the effort he gives on a daily basis is second to none,” Myers said. “What he brings to the table when he puts the pads on and those lights come on is a completely different level.”
Crosswhite learned last season he can lead from the sideline, but now more than ever he’s ready to do so on the gridiron.
“Those are my brothers, and I’d do anything to be out there,” he said. “Football is my life. I eat, drink, sleep football and it was tough being out.
“But I’m back now.”