By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Austin Richards will enter his sophomore year at Osceola High School in a couple of months. After a very good freshman year in the classroom and in the pool and on the soccer field for the Kowboys, he has a right to be excited, right?

Especially since this year is what he’d probably call the beginning of the rest of his life.

Richards, 15, tallied a nice list of accomplishments at OHS while battling Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft tissue cancer detected in his rib 18 months ago.

But after chemotherapy, a surgical procedure and a battery of other tests and scans, the battle seems to be, to the relief of his family, friends and coaches, all but won.

It ensures a healthier and more rewarding year as a Kowboy. Richards competed on the swimming, soccer and water polo teams last year, often working around radiation treatments to play.

“I still feel like I’m a little bit behind, but I feel better than last year. I’m still working my way back,” he said.

In January of 2010, the avid soccer player’s life changed when his unexplained back pains went misdiagnosed, until a chiropractor discovered a mass on one of his ribs.

“Nothing ever came up on X-rays or anything,” Richards said. “My regular doctors didn’t find anything.”

The diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma, which occurs most frequently in male teenagers, dictated that radiation therapy needed to start immediately because of its aggressiveness. It meant three to five-night stays at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando every two weeks, and last April, doctors operated to remove the ninth rib on his right side.

Richards said he kept a strong mental approach to the treatments and the hospital visits, which may have helped his physical side. He said he only got sick twice during the nine months that chemotherapy was the strongest.

“At first, it was curiosity, just to see what it all was. It never seemed that bad as I was going through it,” he said. “I met some kids who went through a lot worse.

“The worst part was the surgery. I kept asking why I had to have the rib removed.”

When he was at the hospital he spent as little time as possible in his room. Helped by his mother, Heidi, they would walk laps around the ward, with the pole with the medication hookup in tow, to stay fit.

The fitness was very important as Austin, along with brothers Spencer and Carter, have been playing soccer since age 4. During his treatments, he kept playing for his club team. Osceola High School boys soccer coach Tom Bell was affiliated with the team and said it was tough to hear about Richards’ diagnosis and treatments.

“He’s just a really good kid. When we heard the diagnosis, my heart sank, and so did the rest of the team’s,” he said. “It used to bother him to have to leave to go do treatments. And he never had a ‘poor me’ attitude.”

During the summer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him a wish — to build a teen hangout in the family’s backyard. Thanks to the foundation’s donations and those from private companies, Richards was able to unveil a freestanding clubhouse with central air, a flat screen TV with gaming systems, futon, mini-fridge, microwave, popcorn popper, foosball table and an iPod dock.

“I’ve slept in there a couple of nights, but Mom doesn’t like it,” he said.

Also during the summer, with mom’s help, the family had a chance meeting with the U.S. National soccer team in Tampa.

“I sent the coach an email asking if any of the players could just send notes of encouragement,” she said. “I didn’t hear back for a while, then I get a phone call from them asking how close we were to Tampa and if we wanted to drive down to meet them.”

At the end of the summer, his head bald from the radiation, Richards joined the OHS swim team in order to strengthen and condition his body, which was weary from the treatment.

“The coach (Katie Davidson) was my kindergarten teacher and she pushed me to try out,” Richards said. “I just liked it.”

When the soccer season started in November, he tried out and was one of two freshmen to earn spots on Coach Tom Bell’s varsity team. Richards would play quite a bit as a substitute, in 10 to 15 minute stretches depending on his energy level, as the Kowboys qualified for the regional playoffs for the first time since 2003.

“He earned his varsity spot, he wasn’t given anything just because he’s a likable kid,” Bell said. “He’s working to build up his endurance; I hope it’s not a permanent thing.”

Richards stayed active in the spring season, playing for the OHS water polo team, concluding a stellar year for any freshman, let alone a freshman battling a disease.

Heidi Richards said being proud of Austin outweighed any concern she had over competing fresh off of treatment.

“He stayed tough, tougher than me, for sure. He amazed the doctors and nurses,” she said. “They all told him, ‘Do what you feel like you can do.’ And he just didn’t stop.”

The family got great news at Richards’ three-month checkup in June — his CBC (complete blood count) numbers were over 4,000 (over 1,000 is considered good) and his immune system was working great. The average five-year survival rate is 70 to 80 percent when treated with chemotherapy.

The next good scan means checkups can go to every six months, then once a year — so infrequent that Richards can look at the disease fully in the rearview mirror.

With a new, full head of hair, he said he’s looking forward to this year and being his old self.

“I want to be able to play a full soccer match this fall,” he said.