Football: Knee injury doesn’t stop ex-Ashwaubenon player’s career

It can be difficult to keep former Ashwaubenon High School defensive back Adam Ness off the football field.
Literally.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Ness had his senior season come to a bitter end last September, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a kickoff return in a game against Shawano.
“It didn’t really hurt that bad,” said Ness, whose older brothers, Nate and Chris, also are former standout players for the Jaguars. “I just couldn’t walk for a play or two. I thought I was going to be out for a play, and then go back in.”
Ness didn’t get back in, but he wasn’t about to let a torn ACL stop him from playing. He couldn’t play in games, of course, but he would put on a knee brace and attend the Jaguars’ practices.
He even stepped onto the field one last time, at the end of Ashwaubenon’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal loss to Monona Grove last November.
Thanks to Ashwaubenon coach Ken Golomski, Ness had a chance to suit up one more time before starting college this fall.
Golomski nominated Ness, a member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians, for the Native American All-Star Game played Friday in Lawrence, Kan.
Ness, who had surgery on his right knee in early December, wasn’t cleared by his doctors to play in the game. But whether it’s because he is too stubborn or just plain determined, he made the trip to Kansas, practiced with the East squad all week and found himself in the starting lineup on Friday.
Ness made his team’s first tackle on defense, and played almost the entire game.
With Ness’ help, the East all-stars crushed the West 42-0. It was the first time a team had been shut out in the game since its debut in 2002.
A few days after the game, Ness said his surgically repaired knee held up well. Even though he was risking injury by coming back too soon, playing in the all-star game was an honor he couldn’t pass up.
“I feel real good,” said Ness, who still sports a brace on his right knee. “I wasn’t even sore during practices or in the game at all. I had no idea (I was going to start). The second practice, they put me at cornerback, and they never took me out.
“I thought (the experience) was pretty cool. I got to fly down there, and we did a lot of cool stuff.”
Of the hundreds of players nominated from throughout the United States, Ness was one of 59 players to participate in the all-star game.
It likely won’t be the last game Ness participates in.
He could be headed to St. Norbert College, where he would join former teammates A.J. Phillips, Matt Joepeck, Weston Zuleger and Bronco Noskowiak. He also is considering attending Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown.
“I am pretty confident he would have been an all-conference player if he would have stayed healthy,” Golomski said. “He brought a physical presence to our secondary and was a great open field tackler. He was a tough, hard-nosed kid. He wasn’t real big, but he packed a lot of punch.
“He was a hard-working kid. He prepared himself.”
That preparation continues. Ness is doing speed training as he continues to rehab his knee. His last checkup is scheduled for the end of this month, when he is expected to get full clearance to resume playing again.
After what Ness has gone through during the past year, he won’t be taking football for granted any time soon.
“It does (make you appreciate the game),” he said.

Scott Venci