This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/06/2024 11:15 AMMany times in sports, tales of triumph over adversity are often told on terrains of competition. Yet for Eric Zielinski’s story, he has penned an ultimate comeback volume through persevering via being in and out of the hospital and several operating rooms to make it back to his athletic love.
The Branford senior boys’ basketball team captain played football, basketball, and baseball growing up, but as time wore on, he dropped the bat and gridiron to focus on the floor. In his first varsity game as a sophomore, Eric fractured his wrist, leading to surgery and him missing half the campaign. The subsequent junior year, Eric played two games but then sat out due to stomach issues.
It was discovered that he had a rare internal hernia and had it surgically removed. But it did not end there, as he caught a form of long COVID and additionally learned he had lyme disease while undergoing bloodwork. Despite all of these hurdles and maladies, including lingering COVID symptoms, Eric persisted and fought his way back to the court, and has led the Hornets to a postseason berth with an average of seven points and four rebounds per game.
“I had such bad fatigue and body aches from the COVID that I could not get out of bed. I was out of school for six months, and I had to do home-bound instructions with schoolwork just to pass,” says Eric. “I worked hard to get back in shape and, even though I was super angry with missing time, I was super grateful.”
Speaking more to that gratitude for all the events that have transpired over the last few years, Eric is glad the wrist injury and stomach ailments occurred. If it was not for them, none of this would have been unearthed, with him avoiding potential life-threatening consequences.
“If I did not go to the doctors, I would have not known about this hernia that I also found out I was born with,” Eric says. “The doctors said it was the best thing that could have happened to me. They said I could have possibly died if the hernia went undetected. I was lucky that they were able to figure out what was going on with me, and I am happy to be back on the team.”
Getting back to the game, Eric works year-round at his craft with AAU ball during the summer months. He truly appreciates how hoops is the ultimate squad sport–leading to showing himself as the consummate teammate full of selflessness.
“I love the dynamics of the game and that you need to win as a team. It is not an individual sport, and you cannot play selfishly. It is also an escape, because it helps me stay calm and relaxed,” says Eric. “Being unselfish has helped me succeed, plus being around my friends, who pushed me to be better. I have always been collected during games. I am good at shutting down the background noise and playing with my teammates. When I go through hard times out there, I reset and think about the next play. I try to think a step ahead; it keeps my mind straight.”
As a steward to the squad, Eric aims to be the same player the younger players can trust, admire, and emulate when he was in their shoes. He adds that having long standing relationships with his captain cohorts certainly does not hurt matters either.
“It was definitely an honor to be named a captain. I remember when I was an underclassman and I always looked up to the older players and wanted to learn from them,” Eric says. “It is a blessing to be a captain with BJ Holmes and Nate Florio. It is a cool story, because we have played together since about 3rd grade. It feels like we have a great chemistry on the court and know where each of us will be. I just want to give as much effort as I can as captain.”
Branford boys’ hoops Head Coach Chris Burnham uses only the highest superlatives when speaking about Eric’s resolve. He adds that Eric’s backstory invokes not only inspiration, but admiration and respect amongst the club.
“I am very proud of Eric; he has shown tremendous strength mentally and emotionally overcoming the adversity he has faced the last two seasons. I see the respect teammates and peers have for him as a captain and a person,” says Burnham. “Watching Eric play this season has been special for myself and the coaching staff. His fellow captains have also shared with me how much he means to them. He’s a special young man and is going to be extremely successful in his next steps of life.”
The Hornets certainly endured some choppy waters right out of the starting gate this winter, with a winless stretch and 0-3 mark. Eric recalls it was some squad sessions away from competition where they realized that they had to simply compete more in depth as a cohesive unit.
“Our first three games were rough; we lost our first game to East Haven by 30 points,” says Eric. “But after those games, we started to play more as a team. Something clicked with us in practice, and we started playing more as a group. After our first win, each of us wanted to do whatever we could to help the team win more. With how well things have gone for us over the past few weeks, we feel we overcame a lot of adversity.”
Additionally, Eric and everyone else has understood their individual floor assignments on a nightly basis. No matter how many times he takes on the opponents’ top baller, Eric never relents or holds back one ounce of pure effort.
“I think we have all stepped our game up, and I have embraced my role of taking on a team’s best player and trying to shut them down,” Eric says. “We all have embraced our roles this year, and for me, I just want to leave it all on the court.”