Chandler Mack: Heart of a Lion
The up and down season of the Freed-Hardeman Lions basketball team resembles the season of one its players. Chandler Mack has shown that in order to overcome obstacles you have to have the heart of a lion. It all started at the beginning of the season during a Lions’ practice. “I started having real bad chest pains and I told our trainer about it,” Mack said. “He said to keep warming up and let him know. Fifteen minutes into practice he had to pull me out.” The redshirt freshman went from spending his time on the court to spending time in a hospital. Doctors ran test after test until they gave him the news. He could no longer play the game he loved. “I was tough especially with a heart condition,” Mack said. “When they tell you that you can’t play they’re serious about that. It would’ve been hard to give it up at such a young age.” Heart problems run in Chandler’s family. Just a few years ago, his older brother passed away at the age of 28. “That was the first thing that came to mind.” Mack said. “Mom says me and my brother are so much alike. I hope were not that much alike.” While Doctors continued to run tests, Chandler did what he could to help his team. “Of course you want to be out there with your team,” Mack said. “But I found that if I couldn’t be their physically then I could do the next best thing and coach from the sidelines.” He spent a month watching his team from the bench. It all changed one day just before the team left on a road trip. “Our trainer got the call from the doctor that the test came back positive and that I could play,” Chandler said. ” I didn’t bring shoes or a uniform. I was just going with the team and luckily one teammate brought extra shoes randomly and then an extra jersey and I played.” Chandler was able to play with his team again and in the process averaged 10 points a game and 5 rebounds. Not even a second attack in January could stop him from playing. “He’s a positive kid,” Head Coach Jason Shelton said. “I think a lot of that comes from his mom and throughout the things their family has been through. I think faith and beliefs and those things probably helped out along the way.” “I try to keep a positive mind about it especially with the doctor saying everything is fine. I keep telling myself that I’m fine. Try to stay positive.”
