When he was in the Tropical 7s rugby tournament in Florida in April, Jack Wierzbowski heard an ominous sound.
“I made a cut, and I heard a pop in my left knee,” he recalled. “I knew something may have happened, but I kept running on it. I stretched and did what I could, and it felt better.
“I wanted to do as many stretches as I could because I knew football was coming up.”
A few months later during June workouts at Central Bucks West, Wierzbowski had a similar encounter with a worse result.
“I made a cut running sprints,” he noted. “Once I touched the endline, I just fell and heard a pop. I couldn’t get up. My teammates had to help me off the field and carried me to the trainer’s room.”
Unfortunately for Wierzbowski, his football and, consequently, wrestling seasons were off. The CB West senior, who was a first-team Suburban One League defensive tackle selection last year as well as a fullback, suffered both anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears in his left knee. He was a mainstay on both sides of the ball for the Bucks.
During his youth playing days and his high school career, Wierzbowski was essentially injury free. He never envisioned such a fate for himself.
“I realized that I completely tore everything,” he stressed. “ I never had anything close to this. I really never thought it could happen to me. When both incidents happened, it was scary.”
He reached a new level of vexation and anxiety.
“It was tough,” he noted. “When you’re used to being very active, and you can’t do anything, it is extremely frustrating. I play three sports, and I was really looking forward to football. That’s where it hurt the most.
“I just don’t know why my seasons had to be taken away.”
CB West head football coach Rob Rowan knew his team suffered a physical and emotional blow.
“Jack was a first-team lineman who weighed only 160 pounds,” said Rowan. “He was the heart and soul of our defense.
“He still is the essence of our team, and his presence will stay with us.”
Wierzbowski has adjusted to his situation as he is roughly two months out from his operation. He has been attending physical therapy twice a week, and has noticed some positive results.
“I feel pretty good right now,” he said. “I’m getting more and more flexibility, and I may be able to start lightly running next month. I know that I have to take one day at a time. I try to spend as much time around the team as I can.”
Wierzbowski also won’t be on the wrestling mats this winter, where he was a constant. Over three seasons, he had a 53-33 mark with 38 falls between 160 and 172 pounds. Wierzbowki slowly grew to appreciate the sport after he began wrestling at the age of 5.
“I’ve been doing it since kindergarten, and I just love it,” he said. “It’s great, and it helps make you a better person with its discipline and other qualities.”
Former CB West head wrestling coach Steve Romesburg, who resigned after last season, valued Wierzbowski’s dedication.
“It definitely was a big loss for the upper middle weight portion of the lineup,” said Romesburg. “He was strong, quick and aggressive. Jack had all the traits you wanted in a wrestler.”
Wierzbowski’s arguably real passion is rugby, a sport he began playing in fifth grade. He is a member of the Doylestown Dragons, and he was recently honored as the Most Valuable Player of the Doylestown Rugby Academy for this past season’s play.
“It always has been fun for me,” said Wierzbowski about rugby. “I’ve enjoyed the physical play, and I’ve learned a lot from the game. I have been able to travel all over the country for tournaments. It is a sport that I want to continue to play.”
Wierzbowski credited his father, Tom, for his success over the years.
“He has always been there for me, and he has pushed me to do more,” he said. “He could see my potential and had been a great influence.”
Wierzbowski hasn’t finalized his college plans, but he is leaning toward pursuing a career in business or marketing. Until then, he wants to play his part to help his team.
“We have a big senior class,” he said. “The team should have a pretty good year. I just want to try and do what I can to help them along the way.”
Whatever the outcome for the Bucks this fall, they will be missing a player who embodies the heart and soul of their team.
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