Heart problem ends Kord Stancell's prep career

August 11, 2008 11:54 pm

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Kord Stancell, a standout in athletics at McDonald County High School, was looking forward this fall to the start of a terrific senior season for the Mustangs.
But Stancell’s life, particularly in athletics, took a sharp turn in early summer.
“I’d get light-headed real fast during an intense workout,” Stancell recalled Monday. “We began going to a doctor in January. We went to the University of Kansas for tests in June and they pretty much determined what it was.”
It’s called exercise-induced cardiomyopathy and has relegated Stancell to the sidelines.
“They were using those words (at KU) on July 3,” Darby, Kord’s mom, said. “I heard them typing it and saying it.
“We were hoping they were ruling it out (as a prognosis),” she said. “They weren’t. We were called the next week ... I believe on July 8.”
Bruce and Darby Stancell, as coaches, weren’t totally unfamiliar with exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.
“That’s the day (July 8) we (the parents) told Kord at the kitchen table,” Darby Stancell said.
“It’s changed everything for 10 years,” she said. “It was a ‘gimmee’ he was going to Nebraska-Omaha and play football.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Darby, managing a laugh, said. “He still loves Pittsburg State (Darby and Bruce were athletes at PSU). But he was going to Nebraska-Omaha because of its zoology program.
“Kord can lead a normal healthy lifestyle ... with restrictions,” she said. “His heart became weakened. There’s a possibility he might even be able to throw the discus in college. He’ll have tests in a year to see if the heart is functioning normal.
“Kord mentally is doing just great,” she said. “I don’t believe how any young man could handle it better.
“Kord is a devout Christian who believes everything happens for a reason,” she said. “He has to trust God’s plan for him.
“It really was hard on Bruce,” Darby said. “They believe it was viral rather than hereditary. Kord was happy about that.
“Kord believes the first football game will be the hardest to handle,” Darby said. “He says ‘me and dad will get through it together.’ ”
Said Kord: “Sure, I was in shock when told. I was thinking, ‘now, what am I going to do.’
“I’d been playing football since the second grade. Oh, my gosh, now I miss football. I’d been wrestling since I was 5. I’d been throwing the discus since the fourth grade.
“I wanted to win the discus (after placing second as a junior). I wanted to win a state championship in wrestling (after placing third at 215 pounds and going 37-2). I wanted us to make the playoffs in football (which would be a first for the Mustangs). I wanted to make all-state in football on both sides of the ball (after making it on defense).
“Once I really looked back, though it sucks and everything, I decided I’d been pretty blessed. I’d done some pretty cool things. And, it isn’t the end of the world.”
Bruce Stancell, a member of the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame, always has been basically the coach for his son (a fullback-linebacker). Bruce coaches running backs and is defensive coordinator for new coach Sean Price.
“He’ll be all right. He’s able to handle it,” Kord said. “He loves the boys. He loves my senior teammates. We’ll still make those playoffs.
“Man, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without God and being a Christian,” Kord said. “It would have been tough ... a lot worse. I still have comfort in knowing God still has a plan.
“It’s wishful thinking, I know, but if my heart returns to normal there’s a possibility I might throw the discus in college.”
Stancell, who should handily rank scholastically in the top 10 percent of his senior class, might look around for another college to attend — emphasizing zoology — since he won’t be playing football for the Mavericks.
Stancell, a Mustang captain in football with Darold Bunch, Blane O’Bannon and Preston Pryce, said he’s been putting more pressure on the bass in Grand Lake and Indian, Big Sugar and Little Sugar creeks.
“I’ve been catching several, too,” he said.
Kord also said don’t be surprised to see the Stancell name in sports reports out of McDonald County this season even if sister Darien is only a freshman.
“Yes, she’s a better natural athlete than me,” he said. “She has so much ability. She’s had a hip problem but there’s nothing that will stop her from being great.”

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