Joe Mussachia On His Way to AmherstThis Article appeared in the Boston Herald on Thursday, December 23 and was written by Dan Ventura.
Hot Shots: Joe Mussachia learns to cope with diabetes
By Dan Ventura / Hot Shots
Thursday, December 23, 2010
MANCHESTER — Joe Mussachia knew something was seriously wrong with his body.
Having played basketball all his life without issues, the Manchester Essex star suddenly began experiencing increasing bouts of fatigue two summers ago. After returning home from a vacation in California, Mussachia decided to see his doctor.
The diagnosis was something he never expected: diabetes.
“I just wasn’t feeling well at all, went to the doctor and they diagnosed me right away,” Mussachia said. “I couldn’t believe it, I was young and healthy. But I learned right away it’s something that you can manage if you take care of yourself.”
Mussachia wears an OmniPod, an insulin pump, on his left arm at all times covered by a protective bandage. The device allows Mussachia to monitor things without an endless supply of needles.
Coach Duane Sigsbury said the basketball staff takes special precautions to ensure that Mussachia isn’t pushing the envelope in practice or during the game.
“We really haven’t had to do as much because Joe has learned to cope with it. He knows what he can or can’t do,” Sigsbury said. “We do ask him all the time, we make sure he is checking the blood sugar levels. He knows he can leave practice at any time if he needs to take some sugar tablets or a drink.”
The disease hasn’t affected the 6-foot-5 swingman on the court. A Boston Herald All-Scholastic last season, Mussachia averaged more than 22 points a game in leading the Hornets to a 16-6 season and a berth in the Division 4 North semifinals.
He eschewed college scholarship offers from Northeast-10 schools in Division 2, opting instead to attend Div. 3 Amherst.
“At first, I wanted to play as high as I could and I had some offers,” Mussachia, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark last season, said.
“But I listened to my dad, coach Sigsbury and my AAU coach (Vin Pastore), who told me education was the most important thing. I just couldn’t let an opportunity like Amherst pass by.”
Sigsbury isn’t surprised that Mussachia put the books ahead of the ball. He also feels deep in his heart that his star could have played at a much higher level.
“He’s competed against the best guys during the AAU season and his team (Mass. Rivals) went something like 13-1,” Sigsbury said. “He went toe-to-toe with a lot of those kids and did very well for himself. He’s a 6-5 slasher, he plays both ends of the floor and plays above the rim.
He just does it all.”
