In Jordan Politza's senior year at Mount Carmel, he suffered a torn anterior crucicate ligament injury in a knee.
After having major knee reconstruction surgery it seemed that Politza's future in wrestling, which he had competed in since he was in first grade, had come to an end.
But last May, Politza, 24, returned to the mat competetively and won an Eastern AAU wrestling championship.
But the road was not easy.
First, Politza tried out for Bloomsburg University's wrestling team, where he was attending college, but the lasting effects of the injury and surgery were too much to overcome at the time and the former Red Tornado could not participate. But Politza still had a motivated mind frame.
"I started working out the last few years," Politza said. "I thought if I tried it again, I could do it."
Politza graduated from Bloomsburg with a degree in electrical engineering in December, and is working at a landscaping business while he tries to find a job in his career field, but being close to home allowed Politza to have a wrestling-focused workout.
"I was working out seven days a week," Politza said. "I was going to work, coming home, going to [Mount Carmel Area High School]. Assistant coach Matt Narcavage would open up the high school room and four or five of us would work out."
Eventually the wrestling competitions started and the journey to the Eastern AAU finals required a lot from the wrestlers.
Politza had to finish in the top three at a divisional tournament, then finish in the top four at a regional bracket before even making it to the finals.
The Eastern AAU finals are then set up like state finals, with 16 wrestlers in each weight class, making it, and then brackets are created.
Five years after having knee surgery and missing out on a collegiate stint in wrestling, Politza fought his way through the 16 wrestlers to take the title.
Also along for the ride was Andy Dowkus, who acted as a coach for Politza during his training, and Wes Shurock, a wrestler at Mount Carmel.
Politza's love for the sport, which he's had since he started grade school, drove him to continue working out.
"It's been five years now since I had the knee reconstruction," Politza said. "I loved wrestling and I never wanted to give it up. I figured I had a chance to win something."
Even though Politza proved he could wrestle again and did so in convincing fashion, he now has his sights on another area in the sport.
"I'm pretty sure that was the grand finale there," Politza said. "I don't know if I'll do it next year. I really want to get into coaching."