Paraplegic water polo player Zach Pickett walks across stage to get high school diploma

Tod Pickett made the prediction for his son Zach in October.

"I can't wait for him to walk across the stage at graduation because I know he will," Tod said. "I know he will."

Seemed like a bold and emotional claim at the time and for understandable reason.

Zach had just completed an improbable and inspiring season as the nation's only paraplegic water polo player for Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.). This only 14 months after his seventh vertebra was crushed and compressed into his spinal cord in a diving accident at Cameron Park Lake.

See Beyond the X feature on Zach Pickett

This spring, he participated on the school swim team for the second consecutive season and in the S7 classification (S1 is most debilitated, S13 the most), he collected three second-place medals, a third, and a fifth at the Paraplegic Games in Miami.

Also a scholar, Zach recorded a 4.1 grade point average his senior year (3.95 cumulative) and earned an academic and athletic scholarship to USC, thanks in part to the Swim with Mike program.

His moving story and determined will earned him the National High School Spirit of Sport Award given by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

He will be awarded a California proclamation in Sacramento on June 12 and a few weeks later will be flown to Boston to receive the nation's top courage award.

All of Zach's achievements and general drive and nature have been a source of enlightenment and empowerment for the entire Pickett family and Ponderosa community.

But to expect Zach to walk again, even for a short duration, appeared simply wishful. And dangerously hopeful.

Dad didn't see it that way.

"With what he's done in the last 14 months, in my eyes, the sky's the limit," Tod said. "As long as he sees it and wants it and puts his mind to it, he can do anything."

Even walk on a graduation stage.

Not a dry eye

As his dad predicted, Zach rose from his wheelchair on Friday and with the use of a cane walked to accept his diploma from Ponderosa principal Lisa Garrett.

By the time his name was announced, the student body and the some 2,000 in attendance realized what was happening. They rose immediately and let out a spontaneous and thunderous ovation.

Zach turned and with the use of a rail, walked briskly down a ramp back to his seat.

"There was barely a dry eye in the place," Tod said. "I knew mine weren't."

Zach, as always, was composed. Focused. Understated.

"It was cool to see everyone and their reactions," he said. "But I wasn't really focused on that. I just wanted to get over it and to my seat."

Doctors have never told Zach that he couldn't walk. But they certainly weren't making any promises either. Even if he displayed a great attitude and hard work.

"Everyone's (spinal) injuries are a little different," Zach said. "I know that. I didn't necessarily make it a concrete goal to walk again. Obviously I wanted and want to. I know I wanted to at graduation. But I wasn't going to make it happen. It just happened."

With the diligent work and encouragement from physical therapists Tyrone Jenkins and Casey Maynard, Zach definitely showed signs of improvement, especially in his left leg. His right leg remained without much feeling.

Core exercises helped with balance, as did water polo and swimming.

By the middle of spring, Zach said, "I knew I would be able (to walk at graduation)."

Of course he didn't tell anyone that. Tod and Zach's mom Judy didn't push or ask. But Tod said he knew Zach was serious when he came home with a cane about a month ago.

"I knew for certain he would do it then," Tod said. "We could have gotten one of those through our insurance a long time ago. The fact that he went on his own to get it, told me he was going for it."

'Bigger than all of us'

On Friday morning, Tod said he was already nervous for his youngest of three sons. Really nervous.

"I woke up at 5 a.m. with a headache," Tod said. "I've been around and my kids have been around sports their whole life. I know what it's like to be nervous for your kids, but this was off the charts. My heart was racing."

By the time of the ceremony, Tod said he could barely breathe. He displaced his nervousness by befriending a mom sitting next to the Pickett family. She didn't know Zach or his condition.

"I've got my head down, I'm trying not to cry and I'm a nervous wreck," Tod said. "I feel like I need to explain myself so I tell the woman, ‘My son is going to walk to get his diploma.' I'm sure she was thinking ‘Yes, that's what we're all here for. All the kids are walking over to get a diploma.' "

Zach didn't want to make a big entrance by rolling his wheel chair up to the stage, so with the help of friend and water polo teammate Travis Marshall, who acted as a shield to hide him, he approached the stage.

"Watch this," Tod told the lady. "This place is going to go crazy."

Almost on cue, after Zach walked five yards with his cane to collect the diploma, the student body immediately rose to their feet. Many of the spectators, most of which knew Zach's plight, quickly followed.

The unsuspecting lady wasn't one of them. He just looked like an ordinary kid at a high school graduation in her eyes.

"I'm sure she thought, ‘Wow, your kid is popular,' " Tod said with a laugh. "I think she eventually figured out there was a lot more going on here and she also stood."

A couple camera crews converged on Zach after the ceremony was complete. Classmates generally mobbed him. Countless photo shoots ensued. Zach's graduation and senior year were more than a little memorable.

"I don't know," he said. "I guess I did most everything I wanted to do. I went to school. Got it done. Now I'm moving on to new places."

The whirlwind of Zach's life — from tragedy to triumph — and the outpouring of support from loved ones, friends and strangers, had his dad's head spinning.

"This is just way bigger than all of us," he said. "Way bigger."

The vision of his son walking on the graduation stage was bigger and grander than Tod had even imagined. Or predicted.

"If you think it's exciting to watch your kid walk for the first time, it's 10 times more exciting to see him walk a second time," he said.