Back Story: A Mountain at a Time, David Cosner Keeps Climbing

David Cosner can’t catch a break. During the last few years, he’s been whittled on, flunked and generally mishandled by life. Not that he’s complaining, mind you, but it does wear a body down.

If you followed the 2010 National Guard FLW National College Championship quest in FLW Outdoors magazine, you know the story of Cosner, the Texas State University standard-bearer. Cosner and his partner, Jay McCollum, came within an eyelash of winning the title, losing the championship to the University of Florida by a margin of 9 ounces (29-10 to 29-1).

What a lot of people didn’t know is that a couple of months before the tournament, Cosner was in a Texas hospital’s ICU after having most of his right lung removed. Cosner, 21, is afflicted with a disease called Wegner’s granulomatosis, which weakens the pulmonary system and organs, and causes a general deterioration of the body’s immune system.

A frequent contributor to the National Guard FLW College Fishing section of FLW Outdoors magazine, Cosner has gone through more than 70 surgeries big and small since he was diagnosed with the disease on his 16th birthday. He’s like a stack of dominoes set in motion to knock itself down. Every health issue he has leads to another problem. This spring he had pneumonia; now he’s scheduled for a midsummer operation to deal with the hernia he developed from coughing too violently during his bout with the pneumonia.

Inevitably, his condition has led to mounting medical bills and a plummeting GPA as Cosner has spent more time in hospitals and doctors’ offices than in the classroom. Because of his failure to complete courses he previously had been acing, his “Incompletes” turned into “Fs” after 12 months and his grade point average dropped from Dean’s List territory of 3.7 to 2.7. Making things worse, Cosner’s parents are up to their eyebrows in medical expenses already, and they can’t shoulder much more debt.

As folks at the 2010 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship learned, however, Cosner is not easily deterred by competition or circumstances. Though his professors told him they had no alternative but to fail him in the incomplete courses, he’s appealing to higher authorities at the university.

“All I want is the chance to redo three courses, which amounts to nine hours, and continue on with other courses” says the business marketing major. “I’m on good terms with the folks at Texas State, so I’m hopeful. I’m doing everything by the book, and making the case that my medical condition kept me from completing the course work when it was supposed to be done. I can’t do anything else; I can’t keep going to school without financial aid.”

Perhaps Texas State officials will give Cosner his chance. After all, the Austin sophomore started the school’s bass club, which has netted Texas State a total of $42,500 to spend as it sees fit. Cosner and McCollum won the school $5,000 in a 2009 National Guard FLW qualifier, then followed with $12,500 in prize money at the 2009 Texas Regional championship, and $25,000 at the 2010 National Championship.

Not surprisingly, Cosner has managed to fish only one tournament since the championship. Health problems, and getting back in the good graces of Texas State and his financial aid providers, have preoccupied his time. A hernia operation is the next big event that Cosner has to look forward to this summer. After that, a lung transplant is on the agenda. And no doubt the Wegner’s granulomatosis will bring him more surprises that he can’t foresee now.

So be it; David Cosner doesn’t feel sorry for himself, doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, and isn’t filled with anything inside except the expectation that things will get better in time. Cosner’s friends have established a fund to help him with his medical and college expenses while he deals with his issues with Texas State. If you want to help a fellow fisherman in need, go to http://dcosner.chipin.com/dcozs-school-and-medical-bills

Even a donation as small as the price of one lure will be welcome. And while you’re at it, remember David Cosner in your prayers.