Before the season even began, it was almost over for Marc Howatson.
The Trinity Western Spartans starting leftside hitter lay on the court, grimacing in pain after landing on a teammate’s foot. His left foot dangled after suffering a dislocation of the subtalar joint.
The Spartans men’s volleyball team was in Russia on a tour which included playing some local club teams as well as some humanitarian mission work.
“I thought we had just seen a national team player’s career end,” admitted Trinity Western coach Ben Josephson.
It was a joint few Canadian doctors had ever seen dislocate, let alone the way it happened with Howatson, without breaking any bones or tearing any muscles.
Doctors popped the foot back into place and he re-joined his teammates a few days later, and using crutches which were too short for his six-foot-seven body, he hobbled around on the humanitarian mission.
It happened on Sept. 4, and on Sunday, just over six months later, Howatson helped the Spartans win the CIS national championship trophy on their home court at the Langley Events Centre.
“I had no idea what was going to happen,” Howatson admitted on Sunday night, after helping the Spartans dispatch the Brandon Bobcats 3-0 to win the school’s second Tantramar Trophy.
Trinity Western’s other victory came in 2006 when Howatson’s older brother Josh was a key member of the Spartan squad.
“I am just thankful that I am here,” the younger Howatson said. “I thank God for what he did for our team.
“My career was in jeopardy; I thought I was done for the season.
“But with lots of therapy, I came back and here we are, celebrating a national championship.”
Howatson could have easily sat out the entire year, rehabbing his way back from the gruesome injury. But that thought never crossed his mind.
After missing the first part of the season, he rejoined the team in late January as they prepared for the stretch drive into the playoffs.
Last season, Howatson was second on the team, with 254 kills in 23 matches and 184 digs. He returned to play in the team’s final 15 games, finishing with 65 kills and 112 digs, very respectable numbers considering what he had been through, but nowhere near what he would have accumulated had he been fully healthy.
“He couldn’t stand the thought of his brothers in battle without him at their side,” Josephson marvelled. “As long as he was capable of helping us win, which he was, we were going to put him out there.”
Howatson brings leadership and toughness.
“He got no lift and was out of reps, but he just kept grinding,” Josephson said. “Unbelievable for a guy playing half a season on basically half a leg.”