Q.H.'S LIMPY ISN'T WIMPY HURTING REBELS STAR PERSEVERES.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

Kyle Lympany hobbles around Quartz Hill High trying to hide the pain caused by two injured knees. He's not doing a good enough job.

At least not at hiding the limp, as soccer teammates have played his name off his walk and come up with the nickname ``Limpy.''

Between whistles, he's doing just fine. Lympany's defense and toughness have contributed to Quartz Hill's 23-0-1 record entering today's regular-season finale against Highland.

Lympany is just glad to be part of it. He was lying on the ground in agony during the final of the Royal tournament in the first week of January, with a left knee that had cleat marks despite a kneepad. Lympany still thinks the knee might be torn but hasn't yet brought it to a specialist.

Coach Andre Matalon said Lympany would be out at least a week and probably longer. But he couldn't keep the senior out of the lineup. Matalon told Lympany he couldn't play without a doctor's note. So less than an hour before the game, Lympany was out getting medical clearance.

``I went to a doctor and told him I needed a note,'' Lympany said. ``I told him I was in a hurry to make a game. He asked if it hurt, moved it around, looked at if for two seconds, signed the note and we left. I had to play. It's like soccer is everything. I just couldn't not play, especially when I'm on a team that's really good.''

The knee still hurts, though it doesn't show on the field. After games, it is apparent. Lympany said he couldn't walk the night after a 4-3 victory over Highland on Jan. 23.

He thinks there might be a torn ligament. And Lympany knows something about ligaments, having torn the meniscus in his right knee last season. It requires surgery at some point, but the doctor said there is no risk of further injury if he can withstand the pain.

That never has been a problem for Lympany. It runs in the family. Lympany's uncle, Scott, is a professional bull rider, a sport introduced to him by Lympany's father, Rick. Lympany also rides bulls.

``It's an adrenaline rush,'' Lympany said. ``You just try to keep a good grip. I've stayed on for over eight seconds. Once eight seconds passes, you jump off and then you just want to get away from the bull. It's tough because the ground is so beat up, it's like sand. It's hard to run on.''

Anything is hard to run on with his knees. But it is Lympany's arms that gather most of the attention. His throw-ins, which can travel up to 60 yards, often have players in awe. He had 30 assists last season and about 15 this year off throw-ins alone.

``I don't see why any college wouldn't want to pick him up just for that,'' Matalon said. ``I could see him going to UCLA, throwing it in to guys and playing 20 minutes. I don't think that would be a bad tactic at all.''

Lympany has a grade-point average higher than 3.5 and hopes to walk on somewhere. But before then, there is an undefeated season to protect.

``Kyle is a courageous young man,'' Matalon said. ``I don't think there are a whole lot of things that can stop him right now. I imagine when he is my age, he might pay for that.''

Rick Lympany stood over his son at the Royal tournament, amazingly calm for a parent with an injured child. He knew nothing was going to keep Kyle down. Rick said he doesn't worry about whether or not Kyle is healthy enough to play.

``Every parent worries,'' Rick said. ``But we raised him good enough that he can make his own decision. If he can't handle it, he'll know.''

Kyle's teammates appreciate having him on the team, and more impressively on the field.

``I have nothing but respect for Kyle Lympany,'' leading scorer Kiel McClung said. ``He's definitely one of the toughest kids I've ever met. He still goes into tackles with bad knees and all.''

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Despite aching knees, senior Kyle Lympany has helped lead Quartz Hill to a 23-0-1 record entering today's regular-season finale against Highland.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer