Nutley Comeback Story: HS Football Kicker Honored At Islanders Game

NUTLEY, NJ — Everyone loves a good comeback story, and Nutley's Angelo Guglielmello has a good one for you.

On Sunday, the New York Islanders and Professional Physical Therapy named Guglielmello as their “Comeback Athlete of the Month” during the New York Islanders’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Guglielmello, a sophomore at St. Joes High School and a kicker on the varsity football team, began experiencing extreme hip pain and was diagnosed with hip flexor tendinitis when he starting his pre-season summer program this year.

The pain made it tough to run and walk in school, let alone kick effectively, Guglielmello’s physical therapy trainers said.

“I was very nervous and anxious about rehab,” Guglielmello said. “I was nervous that I was not going to kick the ball the same as I had been. I mostly was concerned that I was not going to be ready for football season and be able to play for the team that I was hoping to play for since 7th grade.”

Looking for a treatment option that would help him get back on the field, the Nutley resident spent a little over a month with the team at Professional Physical Therapy.

And with determination and some help from his rehab team, Guglielmello returned to his kicker position on the football team and completed a “pain-free season,” according to his trainers.

Has the rehabilitation been a success? Just ask Guglielmello, who has booted a single-season, school-record eight field goals this season for St. Joseph.

“Oh, 95 percent of this is mental,” Guglielmello told NorthJersey.com. “If you go out there saying you’re going to make it, you’ll make it.”

Photo: 5W Public Relations

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