It’s documented elsewhere in this newspaper about Bryan County High School student-athlete Ethan Trombly’s earning a prestigious academic scholarship to Presbyterian College and his signing a track scholarship with the Blue Hose.

Trombly winning an academic scholarship is no surprise. He’s an exceptionally bright young man exhibiting maturity beyond his years. The fact he is receiving an athletic scholarship is a testament to his refusal to give in to a litany of injuries that would have stopped many dead in their tracks.

As a freshman, then first-year football coach Cherard Freeman said of Trombly “this young man is going to be one of the best receivers we’ve ever had here.”

That was in pre-season practice and neither Freeman or Trombly had any inkling of what was to come.

It started with a broken collarbone a few weeks into the season, then came a knee injury in a summer 7-on-7 at Portal which cost him his sophomore season. He played a full junior season but last summer was at a Clemson camp and injured his other knee. He made it back for the Redskins’ eighth game last fall but the following week twisted his knee in pregame warmups. That meant another surgery.

While his football career was limited Trombly also ran track. That, too, was hampered as he found himself running at less than full speed due to recuperating from surgeries on each of his knees.

“I ran at about 75 percent this year,” Trombly said.

Still, he qualified for this weekend’s state meet in the 800 and 1600 meters along with being on two qualifying relay teams. He has won the 1600 meters in the Region 3A-DI meet the last two years.

Tim Adams has coached Trombly in both football and basketball and knows his makeup as well as anyone.

“He is the opposite of a quitter,” said Adams, who is the head track coach and assistant in football. “I could easily say he’s not a quitter but I think being called the opposite of a quitter suits him because he’s gone such an extraordinary path that I just need to say it differently.

“Ethan is an extremely hard worker, extremely coachable and he wants to do well,” Adams said. “Coach Freeman and I and our staff have talked about his desire to do well in football and track. His desire to do well is exceptional. He really wants to do better, wants to succeed.

“For whatever reason some people just run into injuries. Injuries are part of everything but he’s just been bitten by the bug more than normal.”

Trombly does not plan on playing football at Presbyterian which is a member of the Big South Conference. He is anxious to have a spring where he is running while not still recuperating from a knee injury.

“I love football and I love running,” Trombly said. “This year I didn’t know what I was going to do coming off the double meniscus surgery. I’ve shocked myself. My goal was to run a sub five minutes in the 1600 before I graduated and I did that (4:57 in the regional meet).”

Freeman will no doubt use Trombly as an example with players who are dealing with injuries.

“He fought back from two knee surgeries just to play in a couple of football games,” Freeman said. “He had to sign a waiver that the doctor was not at fault if he got hurt. He just wanted to get on the field one time and he made it happen.

“He’s a strong-willed young man who has persevered. Everything he gets from here on he’s earned it. He’s a credit to his mother (Rachel). She raised him right.”