Melleby predicts success for Cherry Hill East

He tried ice. He tried physical therapy. He tried anti-inflammatories.

But the best medicine for Dan Melleby's injured shoulder wasn't found in the trainer's room or the drug store.

"The thing that helped it the most was when we had some success," said Melleby, a senior quarterback and defensive back for the Cherry Hill East football team. "That was the real medicine."

Unfortunately for Melleby and the Cougars, relief was in short supply in 2009. The team went 1-9, dropping several close games to top opponents, and losing the annual Thanksgiving Day clash with crosstown rival Cherry Hill West.

But something was gained from all those losses. The young Cougars picked up know-how and experience and confidence from some tough battles with quality competition. That should help this season.

More than that, though, a proud program that has struggled to return to prominence got a jolt of life from the fierce commitment of its on-the-field leader.

That stuff can spread.

"Everybody from the coaches to his peers could see the sacrifice that Dan was making for this football program," Cherry Hill East coach Tom Coen said. "He gained so much respect. It was bothering him, but he never let on. He never wanted to come out of the game."

The 6-foot, 165-pound Melleby is adamant in his conviction that the struggles of 2009 will pay off for the Cougars in 2010.

"This is the year we expect to make our move," Melleby said the other day, before a scrimmage against defending South Jersey Group 3 champion Hammonton. "We've got a lot more experience. We've got that core chemistry. We're going to do something this season."

Coen, who is beginning his fourth season at Cherry Hill East, said the Cougars have been building toward this season. The team featured a lot of sophomores and juniors along both lines last year, and took its lumps from some of the big boys in the old Burlco Olympic American Division.

Those players are bigger, stronger, and more experienced this season. There's a good group of skill-position players, led by running back Isaiah Campbell along with receivers Sage Kerrin, Taj Frazier, Marcus Phillips, and Alex Reber.

"We've got eight of 11 starters back on defense," Coen said. "We've got some guys who we think can stretch the field a little bit. We've got a quarterback who we know can make some plays. The kids have been working hard. We think we have things moving in the right direction."

Melleby said he knew this season would be different by attendance during the Cougars' unofficial workouts this summer.

"Everybody was there," Melleby said. "You could just tell it was going to be different than last year."

Melleby is a top athlete who played wide receiver and defensive back as a sophomore. That year, he also started for the Cougars' high-powered basketball team.

But last summer, Melleby was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He said his doctor told him he could play, although there was a risk that he could damage the rotator cuff, which would require more extensive reconstructive surgery.

"I wasn't thinking about not playing," Melleby said. "I was thinking about football. I knew my teammates needed me."

Melleby played the entire season. He was a quarterback with a tear in his throwing shoulder, which limited his passing ability.

"I would just ice it, do some physical therapy," Melleby said. "It wasn't like I would try to avoid getting tackled or anything like that."

Melleby had some strong games. He threw five touchdown passes and ran for four. He had a pair of touchdown passes in a loss to Washington Township. He ran for two touchdowns, including an 80-yarder, in a loss to Winslow Township.

Melleby had shoulder surgery in December. That cost him his junior season in basketball, but he was determined to be healthy for his senior year in football.

"I missed playing basketball, but football is my main sport," said Melleby, who hopes to play football in college, probably at the Division III level. "I wanted to be ready for this season."

Cherry Hill East is a member of the National Division in the new West Jersey Football League, along with Pennsauken, Clearview, Shawnee, and Winslow Township. The Cougars open the season next Saturday morning at home against Clearview.

"That's our first true home opener in the school's 41 years," Coen said of the Cougars' move to the refurbished football field on campus as opposed to the shared field behind Cherry Hill West. "It's exciting for the program."

Coen refers to the struggles of the last couple of seasons as growing pains for the program. Melleby can relate to the pain part.

Now, the senior quarterback with the healed shoulder and the healthy outlook is determined to make sure all those aches were well worth it.