Some people might not understand the passion that many athletes have towards sports. Some might not understand the hard work, dedication, and endless effort it takes to become the best version of ourselves. For Guilford Men’s lacrosse player, Derek Spaulding, the path never quite felt planned.

Unfortunately, life happens and might get in the way of the goals we set. For a committed athlete such as Spaulding, the rehabilitation process was a never ending cycle.

Spaulding has gone through 4 ACL surgeries, the most among current NCAA lacrosse athletes. The ACL, located in the knee, is a critical part of the athlete’s body as it is necessary for cutting, pivoting, and decelerating.

“ACL reconstruction is a big surgery and lengthy rehab,” said Spaulding’s trainer Greg McElveen from Duke University.

McElveen has some experience working with injuries and devoted athletes. He has worked with U.S. soldiers, body builders, and many other professional athletes.

McElveen added, “For an athlete to go through it three times and be mentally strong enough to choose to conquer it a fourth time is a testimony to that athlete’s courage and inner strength.”

After the third ACL surgery, Spaulding suffered a torn meniscus. His lacrosse season once again, came to an end.

Derek’s mother Andrea Spaulding was with him every step of the way on his road to recovery.

“The surgery was devastating to both of us,” said Mrs. Spaulding. “His whole world got turned upside down, the surgeon told Spaulding he could never play sports again.”

For any athlete, whether in high school or a professional league, those words are their biggest fear.

Spaulding’s mother is an outstanding athlete herself. She was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cortland State, NY for track and field.

“I did suffer an injury in college but nothing compared to what Derek has had to go through,” she said.

With his head still raised, Spaulding would not take “no” for an answer, and moved to North Carolina and attended Wake Tech. During his time at Wake, Spaulding met adversity again as he sustained another ACL injury. For most athletes, even one surgery can be enough to end a career, but, Spaulding is not most athletes.

Again, Spaulding did not take no for an answer. He and his mother began looking up cutting edge doctors, doctors that had been using new techniques to advance ACL rehabilitation.

Dr. Claude Moorman, M.D. at Duke University, came to answer Derek’s call. After an appointment, he read over Derek’s MRI’s and the surgical notes from the other doctors.

“He walked into the room and did a couple of tests on my legs and said I could play college lacrosse in the spring,” said Spaulding. “I was so happy at this point and got a new knee brace and worked out in the K-Lab at Duke University with a trainer.”

As Spaulding still kept his dream alive, he would fight to step on the lacrosse field again.

Once again he was in search of a program that would give him an opportunity. It seems only fitting that a school like Guilford, a school that believes in second chances, will give Spaulding the moment he has been waiting for since he graduated high school.

After visiting Guilford College Spaulding said, “The campus and environment just felt right, met a few of the players and coaches and really had a good connection.” He added, “There are high expectations for this season, and I am very excited to be part of this program and thankful for the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine since I was just a young kid.”

After years of doctors’ visits, restless nights after long surgeries and rehabilitation, Spaulding came off his first successful college season last year, and hopes to shatter his goals planned for this upcoming spring lacrosse season.