L-C's Trimberger Shows Grit and Growth
6-foot-3 senior enjoys triumphant return to the field after broken leg last year
No player on the Luxemburg-Casco football team was more ready for the season to begin than Mason Trimberger.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder came out of the gates with a 43-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage last week to help set up an opening-drive score for the Spartans.
The senior captain brought in another big catch on the ensuing possession when he hauled in a 27-yard scoring strike from junior Eli Derenne on fourth-and-7 for what turned out to be the deciding points in a 13-6 nonconference victory over Seymour.
"Very excited to be out here back again," said Trimberger, who made four receptions for 97 yards.
They were his first catches since almost a year ago when he caught a quick screen and broke the fibula in his left leg in a Week 2 loss against Appleton Xavier.
"You get pruned back sometimes and you grow back a little bit stronger because of it," L-C football coach Neil Seering said. "He's making the most of his opportunities."
After missing most of last football season, and all of his junior year of basketball, Trimberger is making up for lost time to say the least.
Trimberger felt like his dynamic and explosive self again towards the end of spring, when he made a marvelous run to qualify for the WIAA state track and field meet in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.
It's an accomplishment he wouldn't have been able to do without L-C strength coach Cole Letter pushing him during rehab workouts in winter to strengthen his trail leg again.
Following last year's setback, the only thing Trimberger is hoping to break as a senior is a school record in at least one of the hurdle events.
"I think they are within reach," said Seering, who is also L-C's track and field coach. "He's going to have to come down a little bit, but last year he didn't come back until early spring because he was rehabbing all through winter. If there is anybody who can do it, it would be him."
Trimberger's athleticism and work ethic earned him a role playing cornerback on the football team as a sophomore when the Spartans finished as the WIAA Division 4 state runners-up.
While he couldn't physically contribute for most of last season, he still managed to contribute and grow as a player through film study.
"He gets along with everybody," Seering said. "He's a good-natured kid. I'm glad he worked hard to get back to where he is because he's earned it, and I'm very happy for him. He's just a great kid to coach. He's a good leader, and a good human being for our program."
Besides his natural athleticism, Trimberger's greatest gift might be his foresight in seeing what really matters most.
"I want to go into fire science," said Trimberger, who wants to become a firefighter. "I want to use my athleticism outside of high school to help people."
Seering added, "He's a person that cares about people. He's a thoughtful young man. If he wants to do something for the good of humanity and our communities, he would be a great guy to do that."