Warwick athlete overcomes injury and finds his passion

MIDDLETOWN — Former Warwick High School football star William Tawpash was distraught when back injuries he suffered after a car accident kept him from playing in college. He did, however, discover a new talent while he was hospitalized - art.

This week, Tawpash will display some of his best paintings at the grand opening of The Workplace Club on Route 211 in Middletown.

During his junior year at Warwick High School, Tawpash was invited to play football for Fork Union Military Academy, a prep school for athletes whose past attendees include Plaxico Burress and Eddy George. He excelled in his major sport as well as track and field, but suffered major back injuries when he was run off the road while driving in August of 2010.

When he journeyed to his first college football camp at East Stroudsburg, Tawpash's coach sent him home after a physical therapist decided he could not participate, dousing the young hopeful's lifelong dream. Tawpash's mother, Christine Rolando, recalls the day her son heard he could not play ball anymore, "I'll never forget dropping him at East Stroudsburg on Saturday at Football camp in August, only to get his phone call on Sunday at 5:30 a.m. 'Mom, come and pick me up. The Physical Therapist said I am too injured and can't play.' When I went to get him that morning, he was sitting with his bags packed and his head down in his hands on the edge of his bunk."

Tragedy would come once again for Tawpash a year later. On his 21st birthday, he sustained severe head trauma and a broken back after a motorcycle accident, landing him in intensive care for 10 days and a back brace for 12 weeks.

During his recovery, the young athlete passed the time by drawing and painting, which proved not only to be therapeutic, but opened up a new world for Tawpash.

After being turned away from football as the result of his injuries, he honed his new craft and is now in demand as an artist throughout the tri-state area. His murals have attracted the attention of The Workplace Club's founders, who asked Tawpash to display his creations at its grand opening on Sept. 5. The artwork will remain on display for the next month.

The young artist plans to continue and advance his career in art.