Steele sees task through

Lake City High soccer co-captain Cody Steele knows adversity.

After battling back from a major knee injury sustained 11 months ago, the storybook ending would include bringing home some hardware from state.

Steele is optimistic about the Timberwolves’ chances – but also realistic.

“Sure, we want to win state just like everybody else,” Steele said. “If we can get there and do it game by game, we should do all right.”

That’s just the way the season has unfolded for LC: one step at a time.

“We kind of started off slow, but Chad has made us pick things up,” Steele said, giving credit to T-Wolves coach Chad Beadell. “It’s going pretty well, actually – we’re playing really good right now.”

He adds that LC’s current level of play can be attributed to hard work.

“Our midfield has gotten stronger, the forwards are putting it in the back of the net, and our defense has stepped up a lot,” Steele said. “We knew what we needed to do, and Chad helped us figure out how to do it.

“He talked us through it, and pushed us and pushed us, and kept pushing us until we got it done.”

The T-Wolves’ path parallels in many ways the path that Steele has limped, walked, jogged and run since that fateful match against Coeur d’Alene almost a year ago.

“I tore my ACL, my LCL and my hamstring,” Steele said. “After the doctor looked at my MRI, he told me that I could come back from it if I worked hard enough at my physical therapy and kept at everything.”

There were complications, including a second surgery to root out an infection, but Steele, who leads LC in scoring with 13 goals, said he feels near 100 percent.

“I don’t feel as fast as I was because I have to wear a brace,” Steele said. “But I’m just as strong, and feel like I’m playing just as good.

“I think it may have even made me a smarter player.”

Beadell said Steele’s play and presence has made his job a lot easier.

“He brings a lot of confidence to our team – the other guys trust him,” Beadell said. “He started off a little slow this year, trying to get back into the full rhythm of things after his surgery.

“But you can just tell that the confidence is there when he’s out on the field.”