MSOC : Tessler continues to play through knee injury
At any time of the day, a protective brace can be found on Ryan Tessler’s right knee. Whether he is walking around campus, in a classroom or at practice, Tessler will not take any chances with his recouping injury.
‘It’s not great,’ said Tessler, a redshirt sophomore defender for Syracuse. ‘If I take the brace off, I’m a lot quicker than with it on. I’m a different player mobility-wise. I’d prefer not to wear it, but it’s my choice. No one said I have to wear it, but it’s precautionary and for my best safety.’
Tessler suffered what was originally feared to be a complete MCL and meniscus tear in his right knee during the second game of last season. It turned out to be a high-grade two sprain and partial tear. Surgery was opted against in favor of simply letting the injury scar. Although a year has passed and he has still not fully recovered, Tessler was given his starting role back by head coach Ian McIntyre in each of the Orange’s 16 games this season.
The injury occurred in Tessler’s second game with the Orange, after spending his freshman season in 2009 playing for Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland. The Newtown, Pa., native started Syracuse’s first two games before the collision.
He collided with an Adelphi player in a fight for possession and his knee ‘just went.’ The then-sophomore was sidelined for the remainder of the season and received a medical redshirt.
‘It definitely affected us,’ junior midfielder Mark Brode said. ‘He played every minute of the first two games and played well, too. So it was a blow.’
For approximately a month after the injury, Tessler was in a straight-leg brace up to his hip, which limited his movement. He was not able to run for four months.
‘I was frustrated at first,’ he said. ‘But I was motivated to get back. My attitude was definitely positive in the training room. The most difficult part was not being able to play and travel with the team. Watching them was very difficult.’
After that, Tessler began to make progress, spending an hour and a half every day rehabbing his injury. He began with hip mobility drills to improve his hamstrings and the area around his knee because of the decision to not undergo surgery. He also strengthened his scar tissue by doing lunges and side-to-side training drills, all in an effort to get his MCL back to normal.
‘Rehab was tough, but it went great, and I healed very well,’ he said. ‘I give a lot of credit to the trainers.’
Despite being told the injury would take about a full year to heal, the defender recovered well enough in six months to participate in spring practices. He was limited in the first few practices, acting as a neutral player who could not be touched while he eased back into the routine of playing soccer. Tessler did not go in for challenges until a week or two before the first spring game, in which he played the entire 90 minutes.
McIntyre said Tessler’s playing is still strong post-injury.
‘He’s worked hard,’ McIntyre said. ‘He has a terrific work ethic, and he has the character to grind things out. He gives us a tenacity and a personality out there. I don’t think (the injury) is a factor anymore.’
Though he doesn’t feel as if he’s 100 percent yet, he’s hoping to get there by next summer in time for his redshirt junior season.
‘I’m still recovering and getting used to it,’ Tessler said. ‘All around, it’s getting a lot better, and I’m happy with the way I’ve recovered so far.’
