Still on the run
CRANBERRY TWP — Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic junior Sam Mager still holds the eighth grade record at the Shaler Cross Country Invitational.
He runs cross country no more.
Mager was named CWNC Offensive MVP in soccer as a freshman, scoring a team-leading 12 goals.
He plays soccer no more.
Soccer injuries resulted in the Cranberry Township resident undergoing knee surgery during his sophomore and junior seasons.
He gave up cross country in ninth grade because of the difficulty of participating in that sport and soccer at the same time.
“It was my decision not to play soccer anymore,” Mager said. “I love the game and I miss it. But I don't want to put too much pressure on my knee.”
His first knee injury occurred in the final soccer scrimmage of his sophomore season “when I jumped up to head the ball and landed the wrong way.”
The result was a torn ACL and lateral meniscus. Mager had surgery a month later, then 10 months of rehabilitation.
“I missed everything my sophomore year, in terms of sports,” he said.
Midway through his junior soccer season last fall, having scored seven goals as a defender and midfielder, Mager wrenched the same knee. This time he tore his medial meniscus.
Surgery was required and he was expected to miss the rest of this school year's athletics.
Not this time.
“I was supposed to be out for a few months, but I rehabbed hard,” Mager said. “I wanted to come back for track season, do what I could for the team.”
Mager had been the only Class AA freshman in the state to qualify for the PIAA Championships in the 400 meters. Now he's trying to get back to that point.
He was medically cleared to practice and compete April 10. Despite only four weeks of training and competition, Mager qualified for the WPIAL meet in the 400 meters and as part of the Trojans' 400-meter relay.
“Sam's a natural athlete, but it's tough for a runner to come back from two knee surgeries and reach the level he's at,” CWNC track coach Stacy Kopchak said. “Our 4x100 should get through to states and he's pushing to get there in the 400.
“I refer to him as The Comeback Kid. He's continually dropping seconds off his time. I know how badly he wants this.”
Mager runs the 400-meter relay with Joe Kearney, John Sommers and Tyree Brown. That foursome had the fourth-fastest time in WPIAL Class AA entering Thursday's WPIAL meet.Mager has the seventh fastest time in the WPIAL in the 400. The top five placers in that event at the district meet move on to states.“I wasn't going to run the 4x100, but my teammates needed a fourth guy and I didn't want to let my team down,” Mager said. “I run a straight leg so as not to put too much stress on my knee.”Jose Rivera was recently signed on as Mager's personal coach and has worked with him on six occasions so far this season.“I wasn't around him during his rehab, but Sam is showing no mental affects from those surgeries,” Rivera said. “His improvement in just a few weeks has been remarkable.“He is a quick learner. Her listens well, he's focused and he's very coachable. I love his work ethic.”Mager carries a 4.5 grade point average. He has yet to make his college choice, but says he's hoping to compete in track and field there.Marine biology, construction management and music are courses of study he is considering.“I play the guitar and I'm hoping to join a band moving forward,” Mager said. “While I was recovering from surgery, playing music and listening to it helped me mentally.“I've written a little music, too, and I hope to get more involved in that in the future. Right now, I'm all about school and track.”And putting any knee issues in his rear-view mirror.“Having one surgery was bad. Having a second one was miserable,” he said. “I can't imagine what going through that a third time would be like and I don't want to find out.”
