St. Laurence senior Josh Cartwright thought his high school career was over.

Cartwright, a defensive lineman, tore a tendon in his right wrist in the spring and required surgery. Doctors told him he wouldn't be able to play this season.

Yet, when the Vikings take the field at home against Lemont for a Class 6A quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Saturday, Cartwright is set to be in the starting lineup.

“I got cleared to play with a splint on it in Week 7 of the regular season, and I got right into doing strength therapy and working my way back, step by step,” Cartwright said. “When I got back on the field, I was so excited. I just wanted to cry. It's been an awesome ride.”

Cartwright, 5-foot-7, 220 pounds, played a bit in the Vikings' Oct. 7 game against Marmion. He was in the starting lineup for Week 8 against Aurora Christian and has remained there since.

Though he's been able to work back from the injury quicker than expected, it hasn't been easy for Cartwright. He lost all movement in his right wrist and is still slowly getting it back.

“I'm right-handed, so it's been tough,” he said. “A lot of things that we take for granted, I couldn't do. It was hard to get dressed. I couldn't really write even. It was tough.”

Cartwright's hand is taped into a club on his right arm. Though it limits him in some ways, he's still able to make a big impact on the Vikings' defense.

“I kind of forget that the club is there,” Cartwright said. “I just play my game. It doesn't affect the way I do my pass rushes, and I hope the fact that I'm out there helps the other guys. I want to help everybody keep their heads up, to be a leader and make sure everyone does what they're supposed to do.”

That leadership was still intact even when Cartwright couldn't play.

“He never missed a practice,” St. Laurence coach Harold Blackmon said. “Even when he thought his career was over, he wanted to be here every day and help out any way he could. That's the type of person he is.

“When he got the word that he could come back and play, it was like a new life for him. I'm so happy for him.”

For Cartwright, sitting on the sidelines was depressing, but not being there for his teammates was never an option.

“It was tough not being able to play, but I wanted to keep supporting the team,” he said. “Some guys were struggling, and I wanted to be there to help them out, give them advice, do anything I could.”

Blackmon said having Cartwright in the lineup improves the whole defense, giving everyone a “sense of calm” knowing the senior is out there.

Cartwright was going to do whatever it took to play.

“People ask me, ‘How can you play with a club?'” he said. “You have to work with what you have. If I have one arm, I have one arm. It doesn't matter as long as I'm out there.”

Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.