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Castle all-stater Michael Bertram recovers from injury, commits to Wabash College

 

Castle's Michael Bertram looks to protect the goal last year in the Class 3A state championship loss to West Lafayette Harrison at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. Bertram has committed to Wabash College.

NEWBURGH – Michael Bertram tended goal in sparking Castle High School’s boys’ soccer team to a Class 3A state runner-up finish as a junior.

He went through all the emotions you can imagine – anguish, anger and finally acceptance – suffering a season-ending knee injury before his senior year even started.

Well on his way to recovery, Bertram’s career will begin anew at Wabash College. Regarded as an excellent student, he has committed to Wabash and plans to pursue a degree in a biology en route to becoming an optometrist.

“Everything I heard, they’re a big brotherhood,” said Bertram, who had a 1.35 goals against average and eight shutouts in earning all-state honors as a junior. “Their coaches stuck with me through the injury.”

He was also considering Elmhurst (Illinois), Newberry (South Carolina) and Marian University. Bertram will be joined at Wabash by former Castle teammate Adam Brookman.

Last July, he was playing goalkeeper for Castle against Murray, Kentucky in a University of Evansville team camp. He went out to clear a ball and felt a pop in his right knee. Bertram said the first thing he thought about was getting off the field.

“Once it all set in there was a big flood of emotions,” said Bertram, who suffered a torn meniscus and an anterior cruciate ligament tear. “There was a lot of anger.”

Basically a student assistant coach, Bertram helped mentor new Castle keeper Nigel Stoltz.

“I watched him grow as a player,” Bertram said. “That was a good experience.”

Like Michael, older brother Matt was a standout keeper also victimized by injuries. Before he could even play for the University of Southern Indiana as a freshman, Matt suffered a head injury. He is still attending USI, then plans to study at Logan University, a chiropractic school in Chesterfield, Missouri, just outside St. Louis, next year.

Michael took a philosophical bent to his and his brother’s injuries.

“You deal with it a little bit and move on,” he said.

WASHINGTON had four players named to the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association All-District 4 first team: Bryce Browning, a senior goalkeeper, Ecris Revolorio, sophomore midfielder, Kevin Serrano, senior forward and Caleb Tabor, senior defender. The Hatchets’ Evan Stoll was honored as District 4 Coach of the Year.

Memorial and Castle had two players selected. Travis Sides, a senior defender, and Marky Lara, a senior midfielder, were the Tigers’ representatives. Brock Wandel, a senior forward, and Edris Patterson, a senior defender, were the Knights’ representatives.

Rounding out the first team were: Braden Matthews, junior goalkeeper, Princeton; Zach Schoenstein, senior forward, Mater Dei; Carson Leibering, senior forward, Heritage Hills’ Tyler Hunt, senior forward, Jasper.

LUCAS DAUNHAUER is flourishing as a freshman keeper for Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Mater Dei High School grad is third in NCAA Division II with 86 saves in 13 games.

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