Local Doctor Steps Up

When Hernando High wrestler Nick Pauliot needed surgery on his left knee, volunteer assistant coach Clay Nieman felt compelled to lend a helping hand.

Like Pauliot, Nieman spent his childhood as a ward of the state, and realized just how important athletics meant to Pauliot's future.

"The only reason I was able to do anything later in life was I was active in sports," Nieman said. "That got me through school; I went to college on a scholarship."

Nieman serves as executive director at Heron Pointe Health and Rehabilitation in Brooksville, and used his connections in the medical field to secure pro bono surgery for Pauliot.

Dr. M. Christopher MacLaren of Tampa Bay Bone and Joint in Brooksville performed the surgery on June 12, cleaning out scar tissue from Pauliot's knee at Spring Hill Regional Hospital.

"Spring Hill rolled out the red carpet for Nick," Nieman said. "I can't say enough about the hospital, Tampa Bay Bone and Joint and Dr. MacLaren.

"They showed they want to step up in the community and help some of the real at-risk people we have."

Pauliot currently has only 50 percent of his anterior cruciate ligament, but opted not to have that repaired. The recent Hernando grad has signed on to play football at Weber International University in Babson Park.

"I'm very grateful for what they did," Pauliot said. "He (Dr. MacLaren) did a lot for me. He keeps in contact. He's a very nice guy."

Playing through pain

A 5-foot-10, 200-pound linebacker, Pauliot followed up a junior season that earned him Hernando Today's Defensive Player of the Year award by recording 101 tackles, one sack and two caused fumbles.

He did this almost exclusively on one good leg. He suffered his knee injury in the season-opener versus Central and sat out the next two games.

After visiting several different doctors over a two-week span, Pauliot was finally cleared to return to action against Wesley Chapel in week four. He did not miss anymore time.

Pauliot did miss a handful of early meets during wrestling season, but still managed to go 26-8 with 14 pins and earned his second consecutive berth to the state meet, where he placed fifth at 189 pounds.

"Lots of pain, lots of pain. I was taping it up, wrapping it up," Pauliot said. "Coaches were always telling me keep going, keep going, so I just kept going."

Pauliot said the first time he felt no pain was when he received medication immediately after surgery. He will begin his rehabilitation later this month.

"Now there's almost no pain, but I still can't run or do much," Pauliot said.

According the Pauliot, his coach at Weber has told him he'll receive a medical red-shirt this year if he's not ready to go out for football season.