WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Athlete of the Week: Craig Christman

Athlete of the Week: Craig Christman

By Michelle Tuckner

High school football teams need just one more win to go to State. Kewaunee faces Northwestern for that honor on Saturday.

The Indians have a balanced offense with the passing of Doug Delebreau and the running of Craig Christman, our Action 2 Sports Athlete of the Week, who's made quite the comeback this season.

Before the football season started, the running back felt a sharp pain he'd never experienced before.

"At first I thought it was just a stomachache. I was able to sleep through it but it stayed there for 10 hours and I knew something was wrong," Craig said.

Craig went to the doctor and found out he needed an emergency appendectomy. He has a three-inch scar after surgery and he figured his season was in jeopardy.

"I was thinking, oh boy, there goes football."

Once Christman left the hospital he knew he had a battle to play football this season. The doctors thought it would be four to six weeks, and he missed the first two games of the season.

"After the first two weeks after I got hit there, it reminded me," he said.

"With an appendectomy, some guys recover quickly, but if you get an infection sometimes it takes a long time," Kewaunee head coach Kurt Flaten said.

Craig made a quick recovery. Back five weeks later, he's been starting on both offense and defense for the Indians.

Against Xavier in the playoffs, he led the way rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

"It was big. I was happy. Our entire line picked it up in the second half."

"He has good hands as a receiver and a good tackler. He's everything you want in a player," Coach Flaten said.

Craig's comeback has helped carry Kewaunee to the semifinals of the playoffs as Kewaunee seeks its first state championship in school history.

"Our goal at the beginning of the year, we all wanted to bring home a gold trophy," Craig said.