By now, adversity should have learned its lesson in trying to stymie the athletic achievements of Andrew D’Asaro ’25.
The Denison senior has blown through career roadblocks like Vin Diesel in Fast & Furious to become a nationally recognized javelin thrower.
When D’Asaro tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow prior to a conference track and field meet in high school, he refused to withdraw. Instead, he practiced throwing right handed for one day — and finished second in the meet.
When D’Asaro tore his surgically-repaired UCL for a second time in the fall of his junior year at Denison, he asked, “Who needs a UCL?” He returned in the spring of 2024 with an unattached ligament and reached the NCAA Track and Field Championships with the nation’s third-best qualifying throw.
Andrew D’Asaro has had to adjust his throwing motion to compensate for his torn ligament in his left elbow. He no longer has the grip strength he once possessed on the javelin.
“Andrew has this drive and focus about him,” says Denison track and field coach Mark FitzPatrick. “Other athletes with similar talent would probably give up, thinking, ‘it’s not worth it.’ His resilience has been impressive.”
D’Asaro, an economics and environmental studies double major, has no illusions about turning pro or competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He has a job waiting for him as a performance analyst at Marquette Associates, a respected financial consulting firm, in Philadelphia.
But D’Asaro loves competition and could never picture his college experience without athletics. He’s dealt with pain and lots of in-season physical rehabilitation to finish out a decorated career.
D’Asaro entered his senior season as a two-time NCAC champion and a two-time, second-team All-American with a pair of top-15 performances at NCAA meets.
Some might say that’s the least of his accomplishments.
Denison throws coach Ethan Perry has never heard of a javelin specialist competing for so long without an attached UCL in his throwing arm. D’Asaro has defied the odds for two seasons, while learning to adjust his throwing motion and adhering to a strict rehab regimen mapped out by the Denison sports medicine team.
“The amount of work he does just to compete is amazing,” Perry says.
Some athletes of D’Asaro’s caliber would curse their luck. The Big Red senior approaches his unusual circumstance with an air of gratitude.
“I have strong aspirations and goals,” D’Asaro says. “I feel lucky to be in the position I’m in with another chance to win a national title. After I tore my UCL for the second time, I thought my career might be over.”
UCL tears are an occupational hazard for athletes, especially baseball pitchers, who exert significant force on their elbows while throwing. In fact, UCL repairs are commonly known as “Tommy John surgery,” named for the Major League Baseball pitcher who resumed his stellar career after undergoing the procedure.
Andrew D’Asaro still has a scar on his left elbow from surgery in high school.
But a second tear, like the one D’Asaro suffered in training in the fall of 2023, almost always brings down the curtain on an athlete’s glory days. Rehab from a second surgery is about 18 months, and the chances of returning to peak performance are low.
D’Asaro’s father, John, said his son was “heartbroken” when he came home for fall break. But after consulting with doctors in the Philadelphia area, D’Asaro chose to keep competing with the torn ligament.
His parents gave him their blessing, John says, with the understanding, “it’s probably going to hurt like hell.”
“Our advice was do what’s right by you,” his father recalls. “He’s a thoughtful young man, who’s wise beyond his age. We felt comfortable with the care and support he was getting at Denison. His coaches never pressured him to do something he didn’t want to do. We really feel blessed with the experience he’s had at Denison from the professors to the coaches to his teammates.”
D’Asaro, a team captain, practices his javelin throws twice a week. He also runs sprints, does weight training and plyometrics, and performs mobility exercises.
To continue throwing at a high level, D’ Asaro relies on the muscles around the elbow to compensate for the torn ligament. He’s also indebted to the Denison sports medicine staff.
D’Asaro receives cupping therapy in which a local suction is created on the skin using heated cups to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation. He undergoes scraping therapy, a technique used to release muscle tension, break down adhesions, and improve circulation. He takes needling therapy in which thin needles target specific points in muscles to relieve pain and improve movement.
Teammate Chris Slater ’25 admires the mental toughness his good friend has exhibited the past two years to ready himself for meets.
Just weeks after returning to competition, D’Asaro threw a school record 64.07 meters at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic on April 12, 2024. The three-time track and field All-Academic athlete is enjoying a strong senior season and looks to improve on his 15th-place finish at last year’s NCAA meet, a quest he considers “unfinished business.”
A workout warrior who has spent two years as a Denison strength and conditioning intern, D’Asaro can no longer do heavy pullovers as part of his weight training. Even little things like turning a door knob with his left hand can be challenging.
Once his athletic career ends, D’Asaro will consider surgery to repair the damaged ligament. Whether or not his senior season culminates with an NCAA gold medal, he’s proud of his perseverance, which he wears like a badge of honor.
“I’ve learned I can’t put limits or boundaries on myself,” D’Asaro says. “A lot of people thought I was crazy for doing this. Just proving to myself that I could do it will help me going forward when I face other kinds of adversity.”
