This story is part of the USMC/AVCA Battles Won Award series. This new award recognizes volleyball players and coaches who are overcoming obstacles, both on and off the court.

Lynze Roos, Wofford Head Women’s Volleyball Coach

In the summer of 2022, Lynze’s 11-year-old son, Loren, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that mostly affects children. Loren underwent eight months of chemotherapy and several surgeries to remove portions of his leg.

What happened to Loren?
“Last summer, he was complaining that his knee hurt, but he’s still growing so we just thought that he was just experiencing growing pains. The swelling was at the top of his knee which was a little unusual, so we went to a physical therapist, Thomas Burns, who we knew because he does all our recovery for Wofford athletes. He thought the swelling was in an unusual spot as well, so he called our Wofford orthopedic to get an X-ray.”

“The doctor said he thought it was osteosarcoma, so we met with an oncologist, and Loren quickly had an MRI, a bone scan, and a chest CT. Within 24 hours, we already had a diagnosis – something that takes some kids months to obtain. Working at Wofford, having access to these networks of doctors, and the quick action of so many people likely saved Loren’s life.”

“Loren was diagnosed on Tuesday and the following Monday he already had his port installed and was starting chemo. We were set for an amputation, but they were able to save his knee because the chemo worked so well. Just before the start of the 2022 camp season and a month before preseason, our lives truly turned upside down to fight for our child’s life.”

How are things for you guys now?
“Loren had a fifth surgery this July, and he’s in a wheelchair. He is back in school now, back with his friends, and plugging along. He was able to ring the bell after completing chemo in February. Now, he is in a surveillance portion of treatment that extends 10 years. For the first two years, considered the most critical time period, he is receiving monthly monitoring and scans every three months.”

Talk about the support you’ve received over the past year.
“It’s a lot to accept help, but I really was surrounded by such a strong community here at Wofford College: within volleyball and within Spartanburg. The team wore yellow bows and laces all season, and Wofford organized a special night for children’s cancer and all the parents wore yellow. Even though it’s a small school, we had the biggest community supporting us. From the college president and our athletic director to our SWA and our facilities manager, everyone had our back.”

“I can’t say enough about the special group of young women on our team—especially those seniors—and their families. They could never truly know how much their support got us through. Loren’s friends’ moms organized a meal train, our church rallied around us, and our families stepped in to help us fill the gaps. I also don’t know how we could have gotten to the other side without the staff who stepped up in ways I could not have imagined.”

“I also heard from people in other parts of the larger volleyball community. I wondered, ‘How could volleyball be at every corner?’ but somehow it was.”

What stands out to you most?
“This is a story of the beauty of college sports. Whenever Loren will see the Wofford basketball players and my volleyball girls, they just treat him normal. They treat him like one of their own, which I think makes a big difference. The athletes don’t even mean to try and make a difference, but they do, and that is what is so special about college athletics.”

“They saw a kid running around like a wild man before, and now he’s in a wheelchair with a large scar from the top of his ankle to the top of his hip. I think it sometimes makes them appreciate and not take for granted what they have and that they’re able to go to practice.”

“Some of it feels like, was that reality? It wasn’t a nightmare, because there were so many wonderful things that came out of it and connections made. We’ve learned so much and become stronger.”

 

 “Not only did Lynze manage to keep her spirit afloat, she inspired others along the way. Without knowing it, she became a pillar of strength for everyone that knew about Loren in her circle. Watching her fight with Loren, coach our team, and still have emotional energy left to be there for her daughter and husband has been truly a lesson of a lifetime and a testament to the human spirit.” — Ali Skayhan, USC Upstate head volleyball coach and Lynze’s assistant from 2019–23.

Check out stories of other Battles Won Award nominees