Teen Lacrosse Player With Prosthetic Leg Inspires Team

When he steps onto the field to defend the goal, Freedom High School lacrosse player Trevor LeMaster brings some extra equipment with him besides his stick -- he uses a prosthetic leg. 

The top goalie for the Eagles junior varsity team has grown used to the double-takes and stares.

"Little kids are the funniest because they are like, whoa, he has a broken leg," LeMaster said. "People also congratulate me. They appreciate what I'm doing and how I'm not held back and I just love that feeling."

But LeMaster's teammates say they no longer see the 15-year-old as a lacrosse player with one leg. They just see him as a really good goalie.

"He looks like a normal player and he's outstanding," said teammate Josh Woon. "I'd say he's one of the best goalies I've ever seen play at our level. I wouldn't want to have anyone else."

LeMaster was born missing some major bones in his right leg, leaving it significantly shorter than his left. That didn't stop him from playing sports. He started lacrosse in third grade.

"It was so weird because I used to have a foot and so I would try and walk but I would always fall so I would be uneven," he laughs.

At age 10, LeMaster and his parents made a tough choice. They traveled to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, where his right leg was surgically removed so he could be fitted with a prosthetic leg and improve his mobility.

"I remember all the physical therapy I went through but I just tried to stay positive because this is going to be better for me in the future," LeMaster said.

And it has been better. The freshman not only plays lacrosse but he wrestles too, without the prosthetic. He even competed in some varsity matches last season.

"He's an athlete," said Freedom lacrosse coach Warren Danznebaker. "He's no different than anyone else on this team. He does everything all the other players do. There are no favors or anything like that. He competes with everybody else."

In addition to lacrosse and wrestling, LeMaster also skies, plays volleyball, rock-climbs and sails.

"I know there is not a sport out there that I cannot do except maybe rugby, but I would like to try rugby someday just to try it," he said. "You know, there are tough sports out there and I like tough sports because pushing your limits is fun."

LeMaster has his sights set on varsity lacrosse someday. In the meantime, he hopes his play could inspire the kids coming up behind him.

"I just love doing it and hopefully I can kickstart some young prosthetic careers and get them going in what they should be doing too," he said.

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