VERMILLION — It’s been a wild, bumpy, senior season for Winner’s Shawn Hammerbeck.

Back in August, the 6-foot-7, 260-pound University of Nebraska football commit was raring for a big senior season for the Warriors, when a major injury caused him to miss the first three games of the season.

Hammerback suffered a burst appendix.

“We had our first scrimmage Friday before the opening game, and the next day I just woke up and it hurt so bad,” said Hammerback. “We went to the hospital and got my appendix taken out.”

Hammerbeck needed major surgery to remove his appendix that caused him to lose roughly 25 pounds over the following week after surgery.

Despite the injury, Hammerbeck was back on the field by the fourth game of the season against Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central, but his time in the game was short-lived, suffering a broken thumb in the first quarter.

“That first game back, finally getting to play, it was the first quarter with like nine minutes left, my hand got smashed by a helmet and broke my thumb,” Hammerbeck said.

Hammerbeck’s second injury in a little over a month left him with a major decision that would dictate how his senior season would end.

“It was borderline, surgery or not,” said Hammerbeck. “If I would’ve chosen surgery, that would’ve been pins in my thumb and out for the season.”

Hammerbeck decided against surgery and returned for the Warriors’ playoff run, having to wrap his casted right-hand into a club.

Even with the handicap, Hammerbeck still played a crucial role on the Warriors road to their 10th football championship

Shawn Hammerbeck rushes the quarterback during Winner's 20-14 victory in the 11B championship over Sioux Valley. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“It was a tough luck season for him, a major surgery and then a broken thumb,” said Winner head coach Trent Olson. “That’s a lot to pile on one kid in one year, especially with the expectations that were mounted on him before the season started.”

Coach Olson praised Hammerbeck for his resiliency and determination to comeback from injury, but he understood how his return wouldn’t be the smoothest transition.

“He had no wind, no stamina,” coach Olson said. “With the surgery he couldn’t run at all, and with the broken thumb he hasn’t been able to lift. He didn’t have his cardio where he’d like it I’m sure, so it was a lot more bursts than throwing him out there for 100 plays and watching him go.”

Even with a limited Hammerbeck, getting the Warriors’ first-ever FBS prospect in any form is a huge help when facing some of 11B’s best.

“Ever since he got hurt, he’s been a leader,” said senior tailback Karson Keiser. “He brought the team up even when he wasn’t in pads. And then getting hurt again with his thumb, he didn’t look down. He kept the whole team up. It’s just like getting a DI pick back.”

Battling through surgery in August, a broken thumb in September, Hammerbeck came into the DakotaDome and recorded six tackles in the Warriors’ 20-14 victory over Sioux Valley, earning the game’s Outstanding Lineman award in the process.

All-in-all, Hammerbeck was glad he could finish out his senior year with a championship, and get to win it with his fellow seniors.

“Those are my friends since day one, my brothers,” said Hammerbeck. “We worked so hard for that and got to give them all the credit.”