High school sports can result in injuries. Usually they include small injuries such as bruises, sprains, and hairline fractures. More serious injuries could be a torn ACL, or Achilles. However it’s fairly uncommon to rupture a spleen when playing a sport.

The spleen is a fist sized organ located underneath the left ribs above the stomach that produces white blood cells that are used to fight infections. A ruptured spleen causes the spleen to break open, and can cause internal bleeding making it a very serious injury.

Mononucleosis (Mono), a common illness for high school students can cause the spleen to enlarge, making it more vulnerable.

Earlier this season Ben Caputo (’20) was at lacrosse practice when he ruptured his spleen, at the time he had Mono. “I got hurt when my friend, Tony Hagan (’20), checked me across my spleen area,” Caputo said, “I felt like the wind had gotten knocked out of me, but that feeling wouldn’t stop.”

“I didn’t really know what happened at first; who would think that he ruptured his spleen,” Hagan said. “Later that night my mom told me what happened and I was very upset.”

Caputo had never had any serious injuries before this. “I’ve had a few broken fingers and I hyperextended my wrist once” he said, “This was an extremely new experience for me.”

Caputo isn’t the only freshman this spring who won’t be able to play sports. Lindsay Posner (’20) won’t be able to participate in spring lacrosse and Shane Taylor (’20) has had a chronic knee injury affecting his track season.

“It really stinks that I can’t play, but I’ll be back for next season,” Posner said. “I’m getting better and I have a surgery soon.”

“I can’t practice as hard as I would like to,” Taylor said. “It sucks that I can’t run at my full potential.”