In one look

DYLAN CLUCK

Cedarville School

Senior class

Height 6-3

Notable Recovered from a car accident before his sophomore year to play his junior and senior seasons at Cedarville under his father, Frank Cluck. … Averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.6 assists per game in 3A-4 action while shooting 34.8 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line. … Scored 19 points and 10 rebounds Friday night in a 67-27 win over Cossatot River that clinched the conference’s second seed in this week’s District Tournament, to be held in Cedarville, and a berth in next week’s Region 1 Class 3A tournament in Boonville.

CEDARVILLE — Dylan Cluck’s basketball career could end this week, or maybe next week, or maybe the week after.

Everything is fine for him. Cluck is just happy that he was able to finish his high school career and play for his Cedarville coach, Frank Cluck, after he and his older brother, Austin, were involved in a serious car accident on their way home from practice. shooting at the gymnasium on July 15. , 2019.

“I don’t remember anything about it,” Dylan said. “I just remember waking up and being in a lot of pain and not knowing where I was.”

The car had hit a tree and caught fire, but the first two people to arrive at the scene had fire extinguishers in their vehicle.

Austin and Dylan were airlifted from the accident to a hospital in northwest Arkansas, but it was quickly determined that they needed far more care than was readily available.

“They were airlifted twice,” Frank Cluck said. “They were airlifted from the scene to Northwest Arkansas Hospital, which was a Trauma Center 2. They said they couldn’t handle Austin’s head injury. So they were going to put him on a helicopter to Little Rock Children’s Hospital or Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, depending on availability.”

At first, Austin’s injuries were considered more serious, while Dylan’s injuries were purely orthopedic in nature.

“Dylan was supposedly OK,” Frank said. “He had a dislocated hip, his pelvis was out of place and his foot was messed up; all the orthopedic things. They basically said he had no life threatening injuries. They were going to put him in an ambulance once we find out where Austin was going.”

Instead, one of the doctors approached Frank about possibly getting Dylan flying as well.

“One of the doctors asked if they could fly Dylan too, that would be better for him,” Frank said. “I asked why were they asking me. It was because the insurance might not be paying because there was no reason to have it stolen. I asked if it was better for him, and he said yes, and I asked where can I sign?”

Dylan’s condition took a turn, however, quickly during the helicopter ride to Springfield. The internal injuries he suffered began to show.

“He almost died in the helicopter because his liver and spleen were lacerated,” Frank said. “He lost two units of blood in the helicopter. His blood pressure top line was below 50.”

On top of that, the hospital suggested the helicopter reroute due to a severe thunderstorm in Springfield. This delay could have been fatal to Dylan, so the helicopter pilot made the decision to fly to Springfield.

Frank, a former coach at what was Fort Smith Christian School, is well aware of what might have been for Dylan had he been in an ambulance instead of a helicopter at the time.

“He probably wouldn’t have lived,” he said. “There is miracle after miracle after miracle that lined up that saved their lives. I am a believer in God, and I believe He saved them. changed that but God. I firmly believe that.”

Once the helicopter arrived in Springfield, care began for the brothers.

“They underwent emergency surgery and were in intensive care for about two weeks,” Frank said. “The first two or three days were touch-and-gos. They both shouldn’t have lived. It’s miraculous.”

Austin was able to return for the start of this school year, his junior season, to Alma, where Frank was an algebra and calculus teacher.

Austin started for the Airedales and helped Alma beat rival Greenwood twice during the regular season.

Dylan missed his whole year, his second season. He spent the first two months of school in a wheelchair even though we thought it would be longer.

“He stayed about two or three weeks before anything they said,” Frank said. “He worked really hard to try and beat everything they told him who was next.”

After that school year was over, Cedarville Boys’ coach Andrew Tencleve decided he wanted to coach the Lady Pirates. This left an opening for a boys coach.

“It was miraculous too,” Frank said. “Coach Tencleve has been in this business for years and years. He just decided to go and coach the girls. First of all, you know there’s a vacancy, and I tell them about it. “

Cluck coached at Cedarville in 2004 and before that for 12 years at what is now Union Christian School, but decided to retire from coaching after a very successful run as a basketball coach and boys athletics.

“I got away with it when the kids were little,” Frank said. “I didn’t want to be out four nights a week coaching. I wanted to be there for them.”

Frank always coached his sons as they grew up. Dylan and Austin had been looking forward to playing together for the Airedales that season before the sinking. Dylan was a prolific scorer in college and would have made the varsity team with Austin.

With Frank taking the job at Cedarville before last season, it gave Austin and Dylan the opportunity to play together and for their father.

“Dylan shouldn’t be able to play at all, medically,” Frank said. “He shouldn’t be able to run in a straight line. Two medical professionals said he shouldn’t be able to run. But they said if you say he can play, let him play until ‘he can’t play anymore.

Last year, Austin averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the conference and led Cedarville to the Region 1 Class 3A Finals and Class 3A State Tournament. . He accepted a scholarship to Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge where he is a freshman on the basketball team.

Dylan scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds in 22 minutes in Friday’s Pirates regular season finale in a 67-27 win over Cossatot River that clinched the second seed in the 3A-4 District Tournament of next week in Cedarville.

He gives Alma’s athletic trainer Patty Webb a lot of credit during the rehab process.

“I had kind of given up hope that I could play,” Dylan said. “Patty Webb worked with me a lot and started cheering me on. I was able to start walking. It hurt to walk so I didn’t think I could run. One day I just put on my basketball shoes to see how it was. It was so much better.

During his rehabilitation, he doubted he could play basketball again due to his foot injury, which was classified as a Lisfranc injury.

“The odds were very low,” Dylan said. “The injury I suffered is career ending for an NFL player, so I’m blessed.”

That doesn’t mean playing is painless.

“I notice, but I got used to it,” Dylan said.

Dylan has no intention of following in his older brother’s footsteps and playing collegiately. He’ll hang up his basketball shoes when the Pirates end their season, no matter when.

In the meantime, he will enjoy the last baskets he will make over the next few weeks.

“I’m truly blessed and thank God every day that I get to play,” Dylan said. “It’s a miracle. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for God.”