Wearing a back brace from his neck to the top of his legs earned Bray Malphrus the nickname “Penguin.” There were other amusing monikers for the Georgetown Prep senior, none fit for a newspaper.
Immobilized to protect a stress fracture in his lower back, Malphrus, one of the best lacrosse defenders in the Washington area, was declared out for the season. By his own accounting, the University of Virginia recruit looked “absurd” and felt “miserable.”
“People would tell me, ‘You’re going to UVa. You’re set,’” said Malphrus. “But all I wanted was to play my senior year of high school. It’s the most fun you have in sports.”
After visiting several doctors, Malphrus was resigned to the sidelines. He was told the only remedy for his fractured L-5 vertebrae was three months of rest. Watching the Little Hoyas play Baltimore powers Gilman and St. Paul’s was almost more than Malphrus could stand.
But that was before a surgeon at Suburban Hospital, who also happens to be an assistant lacrosse coach at nearby Churchill, read of Malphrus’ plight on the Internet and asked to see him. Malphrus rushed from school in the middle of the day to visit Dr. Wayne Olan.
Olan told Malphrus that his injury was not uncommon to lacrosse players and that — contrary to previous advice — he would not risk further injury by playing.
“He told me. ‘You can’t do any more damage to your back. I’ll put it on paper,’” said Malphrus. “He said, ‘It’s going to hurt. But you’re safe to play.’ That’s all I needed to hear.”
Since returning to the field, Malphrus has used ice and ibuprofen to ease the pain. He still wears his back brace every night.
“It completely immobilizes my back,” said Malphrus. “After having it on for several hours, I can feel the effects. It feels best in the morning.”
Prep (17-0) is thrilled to have its all-state long-stick midfielder back in the lineup. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Malphrus has been an impact player since his freshman year.
His first start came against DeMatha and Malphrus was assigned to Paul Rabil, now an All-American at Johns Hopkins. Malphrus held him to one assist.
“He was talking a lot during the game,” said Malphrus. “He asked me, ‘Where you going to school next year?’ I said, ‘Uh, Georgetown Prep.’”
According to Malphrus, Rabil got so frustrated that afternoon that “he punched me in the face.”
Rabil was the first of many midfielders who have been shut down by Malphrus.
“He’s so tenacious and quick,” said St. Albans coach Malcolm Lester. “I compare him to a Deion Sanders or a Darrell Green. He can match feet. He’s always got great position and has a nose for the ball. I tell our defenders to, ‘Be like him.’”
ON MALPHRUS
» Bray Malphrus is one component of a big, talented Prep defense that includes 6-6 Kevin Ridgway (Notre Dame), 6-4 Derek Styer (Princeton) and 6-3 junior Mike Flanagan.
» “He’s the hardest worker I’ve seen,” said Prep senior Ryan Shuler. “His intensity carries over to other guys.”
» “Bray has speed, a great handle and is a fierce competitor,” said Prep coach Kevin Giblin.
