Neuqua Valley’s Andrew Hoffmann first felt shoulder pain 18 months ago.
A sophomore at the time, Hoffmann was in his first season as a starting safety for the football team.
“I had a big hit and was getting constant stingers,” he said.
Hoffmann played through the pain, making 39 tackles and five interceptions to earn All-DuPage Valley Conference honors. But it got worse, and Hoffmann began to feel tingling and numbness in his right arm, which is his dominant side. He played football again last season but missed the final 4 ½ games.
After multiple doctor visits and MRIs, Hoffmann was finally diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome two months ago.
“Basically, my top rib and my collarbone are too close together, and that’s compressing a nerve,” he said. “Surgery is the only option for me to be able to play football and basketball next year.”
Hoffmann is scheduled to have surgery to remove the rib on March 13. He said doctors told him to expect a full recovery after 8-10 weeks of rehab.
Coincidence or not, Hoffmann’s brother Patrick, who just finished his career as a wide receiver at South Dakota State, had surgery for the same condition in December.
“They’re saying it’s not genetic, but we don’t know much about it yet,” Andrew Hoffmann said. “He’s already feeling much better.”
Hoffmann is feeling anything but good. At times, he can’t feel anything in his arm at all, he said, and is unable to lift it above his shoulder.
“It’s impacted a bunch of stuff in basketball, like shooting, passing over your head,” Hoffmann said. “It’s really difficult because throughout the day my arm is tingling and pretty much numb, really can’t feel much.
“It’s bad when it is extended. It doesn’t feel too bad when it’s bent, but when it’s totally extended or I’m getting pushed and shoved around, which I’m a pretty physical player, it kind of starts feeling numb, just kind of dead.”
Anyone who assumes Hoffmann is not playing basketball for the Wildcats (19-12) this season doesn’t know him. He has played in 25 of Neuqua Valley’s 31 games and usually starts when he’s feeling well enough.
“I have to ask him before every game: ‘Can you play?’” Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said. “When he says ‘yes,’ I say, ‘All right, I’ll start you.’
“Sometimes he can’t go. It’s minute to minute, even in practice. Like one night we were doing some one-on-one, and he said, ‘I can’t go.’”
That Hoffmann is playing at all amazes many onlookers and impresses his coaches and teammates.
“That tells you what he thinks about being a teammate,” Sutton said. “He’s given everything he has to the team — everything. You can’t give any more.
“Just ultimate respect for a guy who is willing to do that for the team. All we do is preach team. Look what he’s doing for the team.”
The 6-foot Hoffmann, who missed 10 days in January after being thrown to the floor by a much bigger opponent, never considered sitting out the basketball season.
“I have my surgery in March, so there is really nothing I can do until then, so I might as well be out there with my guys and play with them,” he said. “This is the only time I’ll be playing with the seniors, so I’m just trying to finish out a good season with them and contribute as best I can.”
Neuqua Valley senior guard Whitman Charboneau isn’t surprised by Hoffmann’s grit.
“That’s just who Hoff is as a person,” Charboneau said. “He’s always working hard, and that’s the attitude that he brings to practice every day.
“I think everyone takes that on as a team, as well, just that you’ve got to get out there and give it your all no matter what you have going on. It definitely is inspiring.”
Neuqua Valley closed out the regular season by edging visiting Naperville North 59-57 on Wednesday night. Sutton didn’t play Hoffmann and Charboneau, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, in order to rest them for the playoffs.
The seventh-seeded Wildcats and 10th-seeded Naperville North (17-14) will meet for the third time in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26.
Hoffmann is looking forward to it.
“I’m really just trying to do my best,” he said. “It’s been a struggle, but I’m just trying to stay out there.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
