Last weekend, Seamus Brannigan roared through the semifinals of the state “LL” (extra large schools) wrestling championship.
But along the way, he hurt his back. It looked like he might have to forfeit his chance at a state title.
Luckily, Dr. Josh Lander was in the stands.
The neurologist runs Lander Sport + Health Sciences, at the Willows medical complex on Kings Highway North.
An accomplished athlete himself, he knows medicine.
And he knows athletes.
He examined Seamus. With 2 hours to go before the finals, he sent Seamus’ dad Terry — a very successful former Staples wrestler himsef (Class of 1979) — off to CVS for a heating pad, extension cord, lidocaine patches and Motrin.
Dr. Lander proceeded to get Seamus ready — physically and mentally — to compete.
Which he did, almost completely pain-free.
Dr. Josh Lander, working his magic with Seamus Brannigan.
“He’s an incredibly generous guy, who absolutely knows what he’s doing. He’s a fan of all Westport sports,” Terry says.
“And Seamus isn’t the only one on the team he’s helped. He opens up his practice off-hours, to work with other kids too.
“Not all heroes wear capes.”
The ending was a wee bit short of storybook. Seamus — a junior — fell in the finals to a senior from Hall-West Hartford, to finish as runner-up.
But he qualified for the state open. The 126-pounder will be back on the mat this weekend, at Hillhouse High in New Haven.
He’ll be joined by fellow Wreckers Gavin Donaldson, Jessiah Jones and Damian Rousseau. The top 6 there advance to the New England tournament, in Providence.
Good luck, Staples. And thanks again, Dr. Lander!
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Class of ‘79!!!
“Terry was a very average wrestler himself…. ”
Dr. Josh Lander spent a beautiful Saturday in the back of a gym working against the clock with a series of treatments to get Wee Seamus ready to compete… He did not leave Seamus’ side for 2 hours.