Setting the sights high

Gangelhoff takes inspiration from former injury, teammates

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- In a lot of ways, Matt Gangelhoff is just lucky to be up walking, let alone playing sports after a fateful day at football practice in eighth grade that forever changed his life.

Gangelhoff suffered an injury to his neck and he felt pain for almost two weeks before getting it checked out by a doctor.

The discomfort he felt wasn't a sprain, nor would it go away without any kind of treatment.

Instead Gangelhoff, was shocked to learn he had fractured the C5 vertebrae in his neck and had to be transported from New Ulm to Rochester. He said doctors were amazed he was even walking.

"I injured it in practice and I kind of waited it out," Gangelhoff said. "The doctors in Rochester couldn't believe it. They said I should've been paralyzed and were calling me a walking miracle."

The injury meant Gangelhoff's football playing days were over, something that he missed right away. But he admits that he's lucky to be in the situation he's in now.

"When I was younger, it was pretty hard for me," he said. "But when you look at the big picture, there are more things important than just football."

This year, rather than watch the game from the bleachers, Gangelhoff joined his teammates on the sidelines and helped with stats. Just being with his peers and talking to the players made him feel like he was part of the team.

Because of the injury, Gangelhoff is able to spend more time playing basketball and baseball during the offseason. He says the hunger for the next season begins immediately after his current sport's season is over.

"I couldn't play football, so that just made me hungry for the next sport," he said. "I'd lift weights and I shot around a lot."

Gangelhoff is the starting point guard for the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's basketball team and all the extra time he spent in the gym over the summer is paying off. Gangelhoff is averaging 18.1 points per game and just over four assists.

Perhaps his biggest game of the year came against Mankato Loyola, then ranked number one in Class "A," as he scored 26 points en route to a 63-60 win over the Crusaders.

The Knights are 13-1 this season and have won 13 straight after losing the season-opener to Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin. Gangelhoff, who is a junior, wants to go to the state tournament and looks at the seniors for his motivation.

"When I look around at the seniors, I know this is their last year," Gangelhoff said. "In the locker room, Kyle Ludewig said 'in two months I'll be done. This is it. We gotta do this.'"

The Knights have a luxury most teams don't have -- three or more players that can score on any given night. Seniors Kyle Ludewig and Matt Mathiowetz are capable of scoring 20 points per game and that gives the Knights an advantage going into the postseason.

"They're both good ballplayers," Gangelhoff said. "I just find it like a personal challenge to work my hardest and not let up."

He said the success he's had with his teammates dates back to their days in elementary school and he enjoys playing alongside so many talented athletes.

"It's awesome for me," Gangelhoff said. "We've been friends since we were young. We all have a passion for sports and it drives us to want to go farther and farther. It shows how determined we are."

His coach also said that for St. Mary's to be successful, it starts with getting the ball up the court and running the offense the right way.

"Being our point guard, we expect him to take care of the ball and get us into our offense," St. Mary's coach Peter Roufs said. "We just tell him to take what they give you."