You can call Sean Coleman
the Unbreakable Man

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

It’ll take a lot more than surgery to keep Sean Coleman off the lacrosse field.
The senior attack-man at Roman Catholic High School just finished a remarkable season, helping his team achieve a 15-10 record and earn fourth place in the Catholic League.
But his days in a Cahillites uniform weren’t always fun and games.
During his freshman year — just a few months after picking up a lacrosse stick for the first time — Coleman suffered a serious ankle injury. When his second season rolled around, Coleman had to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
"I was so excited to play varsity as a sophomore but then I had to have surgery that December," said Coleman. "It cost me the whole season."
The operation was a success, but Coleman had to get around on crutches for 10 weeks.
"It was a long road to recovery, but it was worth it to play again," he said. "When I came back at the end of the season, my sophomore year, I was back down on JV, which was tough. But it did motivate me to work a lot harder over the summer so I could step up to varsity my junior year."
Well, Coleman did a lot more than join the varsity squad.
He dominated it.
Although it took a while for him to find that lacrosse groove, Coleman did achieve first-team All-Catholic honors.
"When I first got back on the field after everything was done, I was constantly thinking about the injury," said Coleman. "I was hesitating and second-guessing certain steps because I didn’t want to get hurt again. It took the whole season to get back to one-hunded percent. But now I feel great.
"I mean, lacrosse is a rough sport," he explained. "It’s part of the game. We all know what we’re getting into when we step on the field. If you don’t like it, don’t play. I find that most people either love it or they hate it. And I love it."
The Mayfair resident and his Roman teammates ended their season with a recent semifinal loss to La Salle.
He scored 35 goals and had 33 assists this year, leading the Cahillites in both categories. Coleman achieved All-Catholic honors for the second consecutive year — the first attack-man to do so in school history.
"There have been a lot of talented players at Roman over the years," he said. "To be up there with them is a huge honor. It felt really good. I wouldn’t be where I am now without my team, though. They make me look good.
"Our team is one of a kind," he added. "We’re all best friends. If I didn’t have the team that I have now, I wouldn’t love lacrosse as much as I do."
And if he didn’t love lacrosse, Coleman wouldn’t be attending Scranton University this fall on a full athletic scholarship.
"I wasn’t necessarily trying to play lacrosse in college," said Coleman, who has 4.0 grade-point average. "But I put my name and stats out there and Scranton contacted me. It worked out great, because when I went up there, I loved the school, the campus, the administration. I really liked everything."
Coleman, 18, plans to study physical therapy so that he can help other athletes in situations similar to what he faced during his sophomore year.
"I am definitely nervous for college lacrosse, but I’m also really excited too," said Coleman. "I can’t wait to experience the University of Scranton, but at the same time, I would love to stay at Roman for the next four years. I love my school and I’ll be sad to leave it behind soon."
Coleman entered Roman as a freshman not knowing what to expect. Around the same time, he picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time.
It seems things worked out just fine in the end.
"If I didn’t play lacrosse, I wouldn’t be going to Scranton," said Coleman. "And I wouldn’t have the friends and teammates I have now. Lacrosse got me to where I am today." ••
Congratulations to the 2007 All-Catholics for Roman Catholic High School:
First team: Sean Coleman, attack; Dan Gordon, midfield; Dan Burgmann, defense.
Second team: Geoff McGrath, attack; Lou Cerino and Alex Sabia, midfield; Gary LaNoce, defense; Mike Haughney, goalie.
Honorable mention: Tom McDonough and Alek Hughes, defense.
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com