Last October, Kurtis Edgerton watched from the sidelines as Biddeford suffered a season-ending loss to Greely in a Class B South quarterfinal. Heading into 2019, the senior running back is doing everything he can to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Edgerton, who suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder, had surgery in late November. The three-sport athlete was forced to miss basketball in the winter, and he was limited on the diamond during baseball in the spring.
This summer, Edgerton attacked his recovery with a rigorous tenacity and the results have shown early in the preseason.
“(Edgerton’s) really gotten stronger,” said Biddeford head coach Brian Curit. “When you see him, he’s a really, really rugged kid. He’s worked very hard to get back.”
Edgerton rehabbed at the Southern Maine Health Care Sports Performance Center in Saco, where he worked with certified athletic trainer Rick Sirois. The trainer, who has helped several elite athletes in the area recover from injuries, was vital in Edgerton’s recovery.
“I did a lot of work, a lot of physical therapy to get back to full strength,” Edgerton said. “I think (those exercises) have really helped my strength heading into the season.”
Edgerton started playing football in fourth grade. He originally chose to play soccer, but with his admitted “stocky frame” and guidance from his father, he opted to improve his skills on the gridiron. It turned out tossing the pigskin around wasn’t too bad, either.
“I ended up liking the hitting part of football,” Edgerton said. “I’ve gone with it ever since and my older brother (Carter) played with me, so that made it fun, too.”
For the first time in his high school career, Edgerton won’t have his partner in crime and the person who he has looked up to for guidance his entire life by his side.
His brother, while a standout on the field, led with his words. Edgerton, who is more soft-spoken and tends to lead with his play, is working on becoming more vocal. A day after Biddeford’s season-ending 22-14 loss to Greely, he was named a captain for the 2019 season.
“It’s definitely different being a captain,” Edgerton said. “When someone needs to speak up, sometimes I’ve had to think ‘Oh, yeah, I’m that guy now.’”
Curit said the Tigers select their captains at the end of each season because he wants the graduating seniors to have a say as to who should fill the leadership role.
Edgerton was an overwhelming favorite to be a captain. Classmates Anthony Mariello and Owen Goodwin were also selected to lead this year’s team.
“(Edgerton) is just a great kid,” said Curit, who’s entering his 20th season with the Tigers. “He comes from a great family. They know how to speak to people, how to treat people. I think Biddeford football means a lot to him, and that speaks volumes as well.”
Vocal or not, Curit said Edgerton’s presence will be deeply missed when he graduates.
“Our program takes a step back when you lose a guy like Kurtis,” Curit said. “He has a role in making the next leaders of the team.”
Even though he’s still adjusting to his own version of leadership, Edgerton is excited to open the season and he hopes the senior class can leave its print on the Tigers program with a playoff run.
“I want to just help us win. That’s the goal,” Edgerton said. “I think we can make a run. It’s going to take hard work, but I think we’re up for it.”
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