MR TWISTER
10-01-2006, 09:54 AM
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/bybee_jeffery.gifBY MR TWISTER
Illinois Matmen Staff
Sometimes when a stone rolls down hill it just rolls faster and faster before it slows down. Right about now two time class A state champ Jeff Bybee's stone is rolling real fast. In a freak classroom accident at his Chillicothe high school on Thursday, Jeff cut off his left index finger at the joint just above the knuckle. Cutting wood with a table saw Bybee sustained cuts on three fingers including severing a piece of his thumb, detaching his index finger and cutting into the bone on the middle finger. "I was working on the table saw, pushing a piece of wood through, and my hand went right through with it," Bybee said. "My whole body just started pouring out sweat, and everybody just started running around."
Paramedics responded right away and kept Bybee from looking at his hand as he was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Emergency surgery reattached the index finger and if it continues to heal it will remain on Bybee's hand. If the finger does not respond it will have to be amputated. "Jeff's finger only had a very small tendon keeping it attached when he got to the hospital. He's handled it like a trooper, a 100 times better than I would have," said Jeff's father, Jeff Bybee Sr. "Jeff is so focused on wrestling this won't stop him. It will only make him stronger."
Bybee (80-5) is a two time state champion for Illinois Valley Central High, both come from behind wins. In 2005 Bybee scored late in the third period of the 112 pound championship to upset Vince Hannon of Montini and last season defeated 119 pound favorite Tyler Clark of Orion, whom he had lost to four previous times, 3-1 in overtime. Bybee concluded last season ranked third in the country by WrestlingUSA among all sophomores and 12th overall in all classes. He figures to enter this season as the top ranked junior wrestler in class A in Illinois and is considered top 15 overall in Illinois.
If Bybee chooses to have the index finger amputated he will not miss any part of the upcoming season. "I've been thinking a lot about that," Bybee said in reference to either keeping or amputating his finger. "If I have my finger amputated, I can wrestle right away, and I'd be stronger without it." Should he allow the finger to heal normally and if it responds to treatment Bybee would probably miss about 6-8 weeks, returning in mid to late December. Bybee has several pins in his hand but the color is returning to the finger which is a sign it is healing however will not be able to move the index finger anymore.
"Right now Jeff's spirits are good considering all that he has been through this past year," said Bybee Sr. "He broke his hand this spring, his mother was diagnosed with cancer and his best friend was killed this summer causing Jeff to come home early from the Fargo Greco camp. He is a very tough kid and I believe he will handle this as well. I just ask that everyone have compassion for Jeff as he tries to recover."
I have faith that everyone in the Illinois wrestling community will support Jeff in his comeback efforts from this tragic injury. Sooner or later that stone will stop rolling.
Illinois Matmen Staff
Sometimes when a stone rolls down hill it just rolls faster and faster before it slows down. Right about now two time class A state champ Jeff Bybee's stone is rolling real fast. In a freak classroom accident at his Chillicothe high school on Thursday, Jeff cut off his left index finger at the joint just above the knuckle. Cutting wood with a table saw Bybee sustained cuts on three fingers including severing a piece of his thumb, detaching his index finger and cutting into the bone on the middle finger. "I was working on the table saw, pushing a piece of wood through, and my hand went right through with it," Bybee said. "My whole body just started pouring out sweat, and everybody just started running around."
Paramedics responded right away and kept Bybee from looking at his hand as he was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Emergency surgery reattached the index finger and if it continues to heal it will remain on Bybee's hand. If the finger does not respond it will have to be amputated. "Jeff's finger only had a very small tendon keeping it attached when he got to the hospital. He's handled it like a trooper, a 100 times better than I would have," said Jeff's father, Jeff Bybee Sr. "Jeff is so focused on wrestling this won't stop him. It will only make him stronger."
Bybee (80-5) is a two time state champion for Illinois Valley Central High, both come from behind wins. In 2005 Bybee scored late in the third period of the 112 pound championship to upset Vince Hannon of Montini and last season defeated 119 pound favorite Tyler Clark of Orion, whom he had lost to four previous times, 3-1 in overtime. Bybee concluded last season ranked third in the country by WrestlingUSA among all sophomores and 12th overall in all classes. He figures to enter this season as the top ranked junior wrestler in class A in Illinois and is considered top 15 overall in Illinois.
If Bybee chooses to have the index finger amputated he will not miss any part of the upcoming season. "I've been thinking a lot about that," Bybee said in reference to either keeping or amputating his finger. "If I have my finger amputated, I can wrestle right away, and I'd be stronger without it." Should he allow the finger to heal normally and if it responds to treatment Bybee would probably miss about 6-8 weeks, returning in mid to late December. Bybee has several pins in his hand but the color is returning to the finger which is a sign it is healing however will not be able to move the index finger anymore.
"Right now Jeff's spirits are good considering all that he has been through this past year," said Bybee Sr. "He broke his hand this spring, his mother was diagnosed with cancer and his best friend was killed this summer causing Jeff to come home early from the Fargo Greco camp. He is a very tough kid and I believe he will handle this as well. I just ask that everyone have compassion for Jeff as he tries to recover."
I have faith that everyone in the Illinois wrestling community will support Jeff in his comeback efforts from this tragic injury. Sooner or later that stone will stop rolling.