Sam Wonderling has a deeper appreciation than most for the opportunity to compete in the post season.
Three torn ACL’s in the same knee has a way of changing your perspective about things.
“I take nothing for granted this year,” the Souderton senior said. “I’m just thankful that I get through every practice without getting hurt and that I’ve gotten through every game, and I have lasted the whole season.
“I haven’t even sat out a practice or a game because of the knee being sore or anything. I definitely appreciate it that way.”
Wonderling was on track to be a significant contributor at the high school level. Until the knee injuries began in eighth grade.“It was definitely a humbling experience,” the Souderton senior said. “I was expected to play jayvee as a freshman. I was pretty decent. When that happened, I felt like a lot of things came crashing down, and it was tough.
“The whole experience definitely taught me how to be patient, and if you are patient, good things will come, and the hard work will eventually pay off. This season definitely shows that with me being able to play and getting playing time. Being named captain and winning the league – the last three years of rehab have definitely been worth it.”
Coach Perry Engard admits that he was surprised when Wonderling – who sat out his entire freshman and junior seasons – opted to come out for the team this year.
“My biggest fear was he was going to go down with a lot of pain,” Engard said. “He said, ‘Coach, if I just get to go out on the court for one minute, all that pain will be worth it.’
“He has been amazing.”
“Coach was great,” Wonderling said. “After the third time, he said, ‘There’s always going to be a spot on the team for you your senior year if you want to come back.’
“I used that as inspiration to work hard this summer.”
Wonderling’s injury saga began in eighth grade when he went down in a SHYBA game.
“It was one of those things – looking back on it, I kind of regret it,” he said. “We were up 10 with two minutes left in the game. I got a rebound, and I just took it the length of the floor and did a jump stop on the left hand side. I landed on it funny, and it gave out.
“Given the game situation, I probably wouldn’t have done that again.”
Wonderling had surgery the winter of his eighth grade year, and after four and a half months of rehab, he was back on the court.
But not for long.In the beginning of the summer, he tore it again while participating in a basketball clinic.
“The second time was my fault,” Wonderling said. “I only rehabbed four or five months, and you’re really supposed to wait six month to a year before you start playing on it again.
“It’s kind of deceiving because after that first month or two of rehab, it kind of feels great, it feels normal, so I thought I could do everything I was doing before, and I got on it a little too early.”
Another surgery set the stage for another period of rehab.
“This time I knew I was going to do it the right way and rehab for a year to make sure it was completely healthy,” Wonderling said.
He sat out his entire ninth grade year, serving as student manager for the basketball team. As a 10th grader, he started for the junior varsity. The only reminder of the injury was the brace Wonderling wore on his left knee.
“It felt great,” he said.
The summer prior to his junior year, Wonderling participated in several summer leagues, including a league at the Perkasie playground. That’s where he tore his ACL for a third time – this time after going up for a rebound in the semifinal game of the playoffs.
Several medical opinions later, Wonderling opted to forego surgery.
“A lot of times with multiple ACL tears, the second or third time you’ll see other things tear besides the ACL – like the meniscus or the MCL, but for me, every single time it was always just the ACL, and everything else was perfectly fine,” Wonderling said. “My doctor thought my ACL was just the weak link in my body, and everything else was strong enough to support it without one.
“I decided that fall to sit out another year of basketball and do rehab all winter without getting surgery.”
By spring, Wonderling was playing tennis, and last summer, he was back on the basketball court. Although his playing time is limited, Wonderling’s significance to the team is not.
“Sam – because he doesn’t play a lot of minutes – has of his own accord just taken control of the bench,” Engard said. “There’s not a dissenter on that bench, and there’s not a dissenter in the locker room, and a lot of that comes back to Sam because he’s very proactive dealing with things.
“He’s like having a player-coach, and he relishes that role.”
Wonderling has been a major support to his younger brother, sophomore Mark Wonderling, who was thrust into a starting role for a major part of the season.
“He and Mark are very close – they’re not just brothers, they’re friends,” Engard said. “Mark really respects his brother and leans on him, realizing it must be hard for his older brother to play less minutes.
“You could never tell that watching Sam’s face and seeing his excitement for Mark’s successes. Where would we be without what Mark did while Nate Lewis was out? Sam’s contribution has to be noted in that regard.”
According to Wonderling, this year’s team – with its 10 seniors – is a close-knit group, and because of his new role, his perspective has changed. “I did learn to see the game from another perspective from the bench, and I definitely learned a lot about the game,” he said. “I think I became smarter, and that’s helped me this year because I’m not as quick with my knee.
“At first it was tough not playing because that’s all I knew, and I was so used to it. It’s frustrating at times because I try to do things I used to do, and it’s not quite there yet because of taking so many years off. At the same time, I’m just blessed to be playing this year.”
***
There’s a buzz heading into the third meeting of the SOL Continental Conference rivals in Tuesday night’s second round game at Souderton.
Especially between the coaches, who have bent over backwards complimenting each other’s programs as D-Day approaches.
“Souderton is so dangerous,” Titan coach Jason Campbell said. “Unfortunately, they don’t get the respect they deserve.
“I know I highly respect Souderton. Perry’s done a great job and has had great years and success. It always seems people say, ‘They got a great seeding here. They’re not the type of team based on their seeding.’ I think they are. They win 20 games a year. They’re doing something right over there.
“You have to give credit to the team. We respect them fully, and we have to prepare for what they do.”
The Titans – with just two returning players from last year’s Continental Conference championship squad – were on the Indians’ heels in the title hunt until the season’s final week.
“Jason does a terrific job of having his kids on an even keel – not too high after wins and not too low after losses,” Engard said. “I just think he probably never let on to his players that they were supposed to be down this year. He has them playing as if they don’t know any better, and that’s a credit to him.
“They’ve put together a fine season. They were right in the mix at the end.”
The two teams split their two meetings this season with South winning 56-49 on Jan. 8. The Indians have won 13 straight since then, including a 32-28 victory over the Titans on Feb. 2.
“We can’t assume it’s going to be another defensive, low-scoring game,” Campbell said. “Souderton is capable of going on runs. We just have to make sure we limit them from doing those kinds of things. I’m sure they’re trying to game plan the same way.”
It’s hardly a secret that containing senior A.J. Picard is paramount for teams hoping to defeat the Indians.
“I was reading an article where one of their players was saying, ‘A.J. is going to get his points. We just can’t let him go crazy,’” Engard said. “I kind of feel the same way about their two guys. We really have to hold those guys in check first.”‘Those guys’ are senior captains Mike Pincus and Nick Joerger, the Titans’ go-to players.
“They’re the captains of the team and the leaders of the team on the court and off the court,” South junior Steve Schneider said. “They set the tone for everybody else, and it all starts with practice.
“If I see them going 110 percent, that makes me want to be as good as them. I think they set the tempo for everybody else, but it’s not just Nick and Pincus – it’s all the seniors. They’re the most important part of the team. If all of them are stepping up, that just helps everyone else.”
Campbell acknowledged that the Titans will need a team effort to defeat the third-seeded Indians, who bring a 21-2 record into the contest.
“Guys like Steve Schneider and Justin Policare are going to have to be able to step up the scoring load,” the Titans’ coach said. “Joey Maher coming off the bench for us is going to be key. We have to make sure we get some scoring power off the bench.
“That can certainly make a difference because they clearly have good bench players coming in. (Anthony) Sergio can shoot the three. You have to see whose bench is going to out-produce the other team’s bench.”
Schneider echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“Pincus and Nick have been getting their points all season,” he said. “But if myself or Joe Maher or Justin Policare or Sean Kummer or anybody else on the team can get eight or 10 points, that can be the deciding factor if we win or lose.
“It’s definitely going to be big for some other guys to step up and knock down some shots.”
Engard expects the tone for this one to be established early.
“I just think whichever team starts to feel comfortable offensively early will have a decided advantage in the game,” he said. “Going against these guys we have a familiarity.
“They’re coming here expecting good things, and our guys have a chip on their shoulders. They have something they want to defend. On paper, it looks like it’s going to be a really good matchup.”
Facing a familiar opponent, according to Schneider, has its advantages.
“Some of the guys are saying it’s tough, but I really like it,” he said. “I already know who I’m covering. I already know their moves because we played them two times already.
“The last game we all kind of had the jitters because that was the first time being on their court, and we had to get used to it. I know this time everyone is already fired up for the game. I can’t wait.”
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Souderton.
“We have to continue to play the way we’re playing,” Wonderling said. “Our goal is to try and get to the Final Four of districts.
“We’re definitely not taking South lightly though. We know that’s going to be a tough game. They definitely know us, and we know them. Engard said it yesterday, ‘There’s not going to be any tricks to winning this game or anything we can do now. It’s going to be decided on the court on Tuesday night.’”
Just the Fact
Last year’s record: Souderton 10-4 SOL (15-10 overall); Central Bucks South 12-2 SOL, Continental Conference champion (22-7 overall)
This year’s record: Souderton 12-2 SOL Continental Conference champions (21-2 overall); Central Bucks South 9-5 SOL (15-8 overall)
Last meeting: February 2 2010 – Souderton 32, Central Bucks South 28 (Souderton – Nate Moyer 8 points; A.J. Picard 8 points; Jeff Bishop 7 points; Nate Lewis 5 points; Kyle Connolly 2 points; Mark Wonderling 2 points. Central Bucks South – Justin Policare 9 points; Nick Joerger 8 points; Mike Pincus 5 points; Brian Doyle 2 points; Sean Kummer 2 points; Joe Maher 1 point; Matt Johns 1 point)
Last game: Souderton 60, Glen Mills 33 (A.J. Picard 17 points; Nate Moyer 13 points; Jeff Bishop 12 points; Nate Lewis 6 points, Mark Wonderling 6 points; Ryan Connolly 4 points; Derek Brown 2 points)
Central Bucks South 41, Ridley 42 (Mike Pincus 10 points; Nick Joerger 10 points; Joe Maher 8 points; Steve Schneider 8 points; Sean Kummer 4 points; Justin Policare 2 points)
Souderton
Projected starters and season averages:
#10 – Jeff Bishop (Sr., F/C) 6.1 PPG, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots
#11 – Nate Moyer (Sr., G) 9.2 PPG, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals
#24 – Nate Lewis (Sr., F) 6.2 PPG, 5.1 rebounds
#25 – A.J. Picard (Sr., G) 19.0 PPG, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 5.0 assists
#32 – Kyle Connolly (Sr., G/F) 8.1 PPG, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists
The rest of the Indians:
#1 – Greg Mendrzycki (Soph., G)
#3 – Derek Brown (Sr., G/F)
#5 – Joseph Plank (Sr., G)
#12 – Daniel Falencki (Soph., G/F)
#15 – Anthony Sergio (Jr., G) 7.5 PPG (46 percent 3-point field goals)
#20 – Ryan Connolly (Soph., C)
#21 – Mark Wonderling (Soph., G/F) 7.0 PPG, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
#22 – Sam Wonderling (Sr., F)
#23 – Ryan O’Connor (Sr., G)
#30 – Korrey Council (Sr., F/C)
Central Bucks South
Projected starters and season averages:
#3 – Steve Schneider (5-10, Jr., G) 6 PPG, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot
#5 – Sean Kummer (6-1, Sr., F) 5.5 PPG, 3.5 rebounds, 1 assist
#10 – Justin Policare (5-11, Sr., G) 5 PPG, 2.5 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 assists
#22 – Mike Pincus (6-1, Sr., G) 11.5 PPG, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 assists
#34 – Nick Joerger (6-3, Sr., F/C) 10.5 PPG, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
The rest of the Titans:
#13 – Brian Doyle (6-2, Sr., F)
#15 – Dan Brown (5-9, Soph., G)
#23 – Joe Maher (5-9, Sr., G) 5 PPG, 1.5 rebounds, 1 assist
#24 – Eddie Bieker (6-1, Jr., G/F)
#33 – John Staman (5-11, Jr., G)
#44 – Matt Johns (6-4, Soph., F/C) 3 PPG, 3 rebounds, 1 blocked shot
#45 – Dan Eichorn (6-0, Jr., F)
#55 – Sean Gorman (6-8, Sr., C)
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