WOW: Mac Andrews finding success after devastating injury back in December

BY BRANT PARSONS — Six months ago, Wellington's Mac Andrews was in a wheel chair with a fractured pelvis.

Now, he just finished a whirlwind 20-day road trip for wrestling and is picking up experience and wins across the country. His successes earned him this week’s vote as the Kabra Wrestling Reader’s Choice Wrestler of the Week.

A few of his accomplishments over that stretch include being a finalist and All-American at the Adidas Nationals, the AAU 16U folkstyle champion, FAWA Greco-Roman state champion and freestyle finalist, and he went 8-0 at the 16U national duals in Greco and earned All-Tournament merits after finishing 7-2 in freestyle.

That success was something he was building toward already back when Andrews fractured his pelvis in a dual against Olympic Heights last December.

The initial prognosis was at least a 12-week recovery.

“It took a few days to process it,” Andrews said of the injury. “I tried to not let it frustrate me and I had physical therapy and my dad to help push me through the ups and downs and without him, I may not have had enough motivation to get it done quickly.”

Andrews attacked him physical therapy sessions that focused on flexibility with some added strength training and soon the decision was made that he would try to complete the recovery process in six weeks and get on the mat to finish the season.

He made his return for the postseason and earned a spot in Kissimmee, but some lingering issues from the injury helped keep him off the podium.

“One of the issues was endurance but there was also the mental issue as I had trouble gaining the aggression back that I needed during matches,” Andrews said. “I learned that I need to stay focused both during and before matches.”

The rising junior has put that to work this offseason as he continues to see success and winning matches certainly does help the process.

On his calendar is the AAU Scholastic Duals that start tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale, a trip to Fargo next month, and then work on getting stronger for the season.

The straight A student will attack each of those things with a purpose because he knows that it is important to make the most of every second.

Something that he was reminded of six months ago when he was getting around on crutches and in a wheelchair and it is part of what he builds into his pre-match mind preparation.

“I reassure myself that I will be doing the best I can when I’m on the mat,” Andrews said. “And to not worry about consequences or things that I can’t control.”