RETURN OF A HURRICANE: Love of Football Overcomes For Hightower's Wilson

AS ENLIGHTENING AS HE IS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, HIGHTOWER SENIOR DEFENSIVE BACK SANTANA WILSON’S EPIPHANY CAME OFF IT.

Wilson missed five games last season because of a shoulder injury. He was devastated.

Wilson said his lowest point came that late October night when bad tackling form in a regular season game against Katy Paetow cost him. After returning home from the hospital, Wilson lay in his bed, sunk in a feeling of uselessness.

“That’s the point where I had to change the mentality and say that I’m not going to let this injury get the best of me,” said Wilson, a three-year varsity letterman. “I made it a point that I was going to do whatever it took to get back.”

Wilson’s love for football was tested. When the injury initially occurred, trainers believed the rotator cuff was shattered. Wilson thought his season was done.

But what he discovered was how much the game meant to him. Wilson loved football.

So, he rehabbed every day, doing the same monotonous physical therapy exercises with elastic bands, or trying to do a simple pushup or arm extension. Anything to regain normal range of motion.

“Going to the doctor and working hard and putting in all the time in physical therapy, I was able to make it back way sooner,” Wilson said. “That just proved my love for the game and how much I really wanted to be back on the field and be back with my brothers.”

Wilson ultimately made it back for the Class 5A-DI Regional Final, a rematch against Paetow. The result wasn’t what the Hurricanes desired. But they learned a lot about Wilson. And he learned a lot about the game.

Watching those five games from the sidelines, Wilson picked up on subtle nuances he otherwise might have never realized.

“The game started to slow down for me,” he said. “So, when I came back, and going into this summer, I had a few things in the back of my mind that I could implement for the upcoming year. That’s what I’ve been doing all of camp season.”

Wilson, whose physicality and speed have been trademarks of his game since he started playing at five years old, finished last season with 27 tackles, an interception, two fumbles caused and a fumble recovery in nine games. This season, he said he will be better.

Like last year, Wilson will play cornerback or safety, depending on the scheme of the opposing offense. He expects to be injury-free. He’s taken the weight room more seriously, building his body.

“I feel like I’ll be able to finish the whole season, contribute to every game,” Wilson said.

Out of the weight room, he’s emphasized speed technique, like how he drops back into coverages. How he makes sure his hips are fluid. Being able to open up out of his breaks smoother.

Wilson is adamant he will not miss any more time with his brothers.

“We went deep into the playoffs last year, and this year we plan on taking it to the next level,” he said. “This is a team game, so if we can win State and accomplish something together, that would be better than anything I can accomplish on my own.”

He’s proven he can accomplish quite a lot.