Buzzeo’s senior sports year over

11 years ago

sp-kole-dc1-pt-51SAD NEWS — Houlton fans are disappointed with the news that senior Kole Buzzeo has suffered a torn ACL and will have surgery on Dec. 23. He will not return for the basketball season or for his final year of baseball this spring.
By Gloria Austin

Staff Writer
    Two veterans were not dressed for the Houlton Shiretowners’ home opener last Wednesday.
    Senior Kole Buzzeo and junior Dan Howe sat on the sideline in dress shirts and ties instead of being in their usual white uniforms. Howe has patella tendonitis and is slowly healing, but at some point, will hopefully make his way back into the lineup, while the prognosis for Buzzeo is not as optimistic.

    In the first quarter of the Shiretowners opening game in Calais, Buzzeo suffered a season-ending injury. A tear in his anterior cruciate ligament.
    “I went to dribble left and I landed wrong on my right foot and my knee buckled under me and I heard a pop,” said Buzzeo.
    Buzzeo is scheduled for surgery on Dec. 23.
    “It’s devastating that I miss my senior year of basketball,” he said. “It’s the worst feeling ever.”
    Houlton coach Rob Moran said the loss of Buzzeo is “huge” for the team.
    “Kole is not only one of our best shooters, but one of our smartest players,” he said. “He took the ball out for us on most occasions and handled it in our delay game at the end of games. Kole has also become a kid who can get to the hoop.
    “He led our team in charges taken last year. He was also one of our better defensive guards. We have people who have stepped up in his absence and they need to continue to do so,” added Moran.
    But beyond all of that, Buzzeo is a role model for younger players.
    “He is a leader and a captain who is still at every practice and helping the team in any way that he can,” said Moran. “I feel like he was certainly one of the better guards in Aroostook County and Eastern Maine.”
    On the court, Buzzeo is a member of two Eastern Maine championship teams. He has also taken the center stage in two state Class C soccer games as goalie.
    “The kid is a winner who has played in many different big games over the years,” added Moran. “He is also a very good baseball player as the shortstop and pitcher for the team.”
    This is where the story gets more disheartening. Buzzeo will not be able to participate in baseball this year.
    “That is what makes this even harder to deal with,” said Buzzeo.
    “It is a tough hand for anyone to be dealt and I feel like Kole has handled it as well as any kid could, especially someone who loves sports the way that he does,” Moran said.