By Rich Winter

605 Sports

After battling knee injuries each of the last two years Castlewood’s Carson Kirwan finally got a taste of the state basketball tournament. 

After suffering ACL injuries to both knees in consecutive years Kirwan got on the court for the final six seconds of Castlewood’s consolation championship game against Viborg-Hurley at the Class B state tournament on March 18 in Aberdeen. 

“Coach Raasch asked me if I wanted to go in,” Kirwan said. “It was good to get in and kind of a special feeling for me. Getting to the state tournament was always a goal of mine and it was nice to hear the fans one more time.” 

Getting to the state tournament hasn’t been a problem for the Warriors. In each of the last two seasons Castlewood has made the Class B field with Kirwan on the bench unable to play. 

Kirwan jumped right into the spotlight at Castlewood his freshman and sophomore seasons. A starter on both the basketball and football teams as a freshman, Kirwan capped off his sophomore season winning a state title in the high jump (6-4). 

After a successful football season his junior year Kirwan’s basketball season came to a screeching halt with an injury against Canistota in game nine. 

“I guess I injured it the game before when I hyper-flexed my knee,” he said. “I was playing against Canistota and my left knee buckled.” 

The Castlewood boys qualified for the Class B state tournament in 2022, eventually finishing sixth. Kirwan’s dreams of playing in a state tournament were put on hold. 

“It was tough but it was what it was,” he said. “I was coping with my injury the best I could but I tried to be there for my teammates in any way possible.” 

After a rigorous spring and summer of rehab and strength training Kirwan was able to come back to play football in the second game of his senior season. 

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound running back/wide receiver/linebacker/cornerback helped lead Castlewood to the second round of the Class 9A playoffs where it played Lyman.

“In our last game of the season I was returning a kickoff and I planted and I think a guy was tackling me at the same time,” Kirwan said. 

The sports-minded senior knew what had happened immediately.

“I cried on the field and slammed my helmet a little bit,” he said. 

Kirwan missed his freshman season of track because of COVID-19 and missed most of his junior and senior years with knee injuries. 

Despite some nagging what “ifs” the Castlewood senior tried not to dwell on those thoughts as he dove into rehab once again. 

“I try not to focus on the what ifs because there will always be what ifs in life,” he said. “I put my head down through rehab and I’m hoping to come back faster and stronger next year. Maybe there will be something good that comes out of this.” 

Kirwan might not have to wait long to see if he’ll come back faster and stronger. The most recent ACL injury has healed enough that doctors have cleared him for track season. 

“I’ll probably get back to jumping about mid-season and then hope to peak in late May at the state track meet,” he said. 

While his college plans aren’t set in stone Kirwan carries a 4.0 GPA and plans on going into exercise science.