On January 14th, 2022, disaster struck for Dawson Weber in what seemed to be just a normal JV basketball game. Dawson was having a stellar freshman year in basketball, averaging over 10 points per game, on a great Potosi JV squad. Dawson was having a good game in the first half against Cassville High School, but when he saw a loose ball, he knew he needed to get that ball. He raced an opposing player for the ball but got tripped up and fell on his shoulder.
Everyone, including teammate Ryan Stoney, thought that he was fine and just had a bruise. Ryan said, “I was worried for my buddy but I just thought he got the wind knocked out of him.” Dawson even got up and shot a free throw after getting hit, but he missed it. He knew something was seriously wrong. His parents took him to the hospital and would later find out he had broken his collarbone. Dawson was optimistic about the whole situation, and I remember getting funny texts from him that night.
However, Dawson had another injury on August 22nd, 2022. Dawson was playing quarterback for the PC JV football team. They were playing Wauzeka-Stueben/Seneca in week one. Dawson dropped back to pass with time expiring in the 2nd quarter. “I remember we were running the Hail Mary and I dropped back and had to get out of the pocket because there were defenders chasing me,” said Dawson. Dawson then threw the ball up in the air and was hit immediately and knocked into our sideline. Dawson said, “The worst thing about the whole play was that the ball was picked off”.
When I saw Dawson was hurt on the sideline, I immediately thought that it was his collarbone. Teammate Ryan Stoney said, “I honestly thought he was just being a baby.” Dawson was very upset while riding with his parents to the hospital, but he made sure I knew there were “no tears shed.” He said he did feel a lot of support from his teammates and the community.
Dawson had a long recovery by resting his arm and taking it easy. It took him 10 weeks to be cleared by the doctors after the first time he broke it, and only 8 weeks after the second time, Dawson was able to return to sports right after the bone was healed with no rehab. Even though Dawson had these terrible injuries, he did not let them hold up his sports career. I remember seeing Dawson show up to basketball practices and shoot with one hand that same basketball season. He also was at the majority of the football practices and still showed a lot of support for the teams.
Dawson says the injuries have not changed his aggressiveness, and you can see that when you watch how he plays on the field or the court. Dawson is now the starting quarterback for the undefeated Six Rivers Conference Champions, the PC varsity football team and earned honorable mention all-conference last season as a junior in basketball. Dawson has more than overcome his injuries.