The clock showed one second.

 

That’s all that was left between Josh Wojociehowicz finishing out his high school career on the football field in the most impressive manner possible and starting what he hoped would be a banner senior year on the wrestling mat.

 

One second.

 

Everything would change as the clock stood still, almost taunting Wojociehowicz as he laid in clear agony near the end zone in what was about to become a 21-14 Class AA state title victory against Bluefield at Wheeling Island Stadium. It happened as Bluefield was running its next to last play of the game and the flow of action saw Wojociehowicz and the Beavers’ center collide deep in Bluefield territory.

 

The play was ruled over after an incomplete pass as one second showed. It took longer for his wrestling coach and one of Bridgeport’s team physicians, Dr. Chris Courtney, to get to him on the field. And by the time Courtney arrived, Wojociehowicz knew to some extent what was wrong.

 

“I don’t know if I heard it, but in a sense, I guess you could say that I did because I could feel the actual crunch,” said Wojociehowicz. “At first there wasn’t much pain, but I knew it was broke.

 

“I started to freak out a bit and yell because I thought I broke my leg; I thought I broke my tibia and fibula and that my ankle was fine,” he continued. “The doctors were coming over and checking things and (Coach Courtney) was, for whatever reason, the first one in my line of sight. I saw him and I remember Bluefield’s JJ David and their center pulling me on my back to help me out, which I appreciated.”

 

Courtney was out there with the rest of the Indians’ medical staff checking his leg. His leg was fine. The area around his ankle was another question. That, however, slipped out of his mind as the Indians had one last second to eat up on the clock.

 

One second.

 

“At that point, after they checked me out, I wasn’t thinking about anything other than being with my team. I figured I would deal with the team and celebrate as much as I could,” said Wojociehowicz. “The only thing frustrating was watching everyone running around in celebration and I have to use my two wrestling coaches as crutches. I tried to stay happy and figured I could worry about my ankle once I got home.”

 

Long before he got home, he learned he broke his left fibula – a clean break – very close to his ankle. Wojociehowicz said it’s so close to his ankle he considers it a broken ankle.

 

Regardless of where or the terminology, one thing was clear, he wouldn’t wrestle this season. A year after battling through the regionals with a knee injury that saw him come up just short of qualifying for the states, Wojociehowicz’s senior wrestling season was over before it ever got started.

 

“You don’t want to ‘what if’ the situation, but it’s hard knowing there was just one second left and anything could have erased that one second. You add to it that Josh is such a good kid, worked so hard to contribute and did in a big way and now he can’t wrestle,” said BHS Coach John Cole. “It’s an unfortunate part of this sport and it’s terrible because he was counting on a big senior season in wrestling. You don’t do what he’s done in football and in wrestling without working for it. It’s just a tough situation. Knowing there was just one second left makes it even worse.”

 

As much as that stood out to Cole, he said as he looked back, he was amazed at what Wojociehowicz was doing after the game’s aftermath when a break was confirmed

 

“We were telling him we were sorry, and he said it didn’t matter because he was happy we won the game. That’s the type of young man he is and why he’s a success,” said Cole of his offensive and defensive end. “That’s what you expect out of a senior who stepped up and contributed like he never had before.”

 

Cole was initially hopeful that it wasn’t as bad as it looked. The medical staff knew it was an ankle, just not how bad, and the third-year coach was hoping for a sprain.

 

“When they got him to the sideline and worked on him really fast, they knew it was a break,” said Cole.

 

A week ago, from this past Tuesday, Wojociehowicz was at United Hospital Center having surgery. To perhaps no one’s surprise, wrestling coach and surgeon Dr. Chris Courtney did the procedure.

 

“I knew I was in good hands because if (Courtney) can take care of it he will. I trust him because I’ve been around him most of my life,” said Wojociehowicz.

 

Wojociehowicz said the surgery went well. He said a plate and eight screws were put in his leg and he was sent home before the day ended and was back at school this past Monday.

 

The good news is that Wojociehowicz is expected to make a full recovery. The timeline is eight weeks.

 

“Right now, I’m letting everything heal up,” said Wojociehowicz. “Even with that, I know I’m going to miss wrestling, but need to get myself better.”

 

The goal is to be back in shape for when Wojociehowicz and his family move to Colorado after his senior year. And when he moves, he’ll be playing football again as he’s verbally committed to be a long snapper for the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado

 

Even with the future looking bright, one may wonder what Wojociehowicz is feeling. After all, he knows quite well what the clock showed when the injury occurred.

 

“I know there was one second, absolutely, but I don’t think about it all that much,” said Wojociehowicz. “I’m trying to stay more positive and think about the first play of the game and all the others where we won a state title and not the last one.”

 

Perhaps that’s one way to look at it. And Wojociehowicz said there was another way to look at it as well.

 

“I know I’ve lost things because of this, mainly wrestling. I’ve been wrestling since I was eight, but I’ve asked myself to consider the things I’ve gained,” he said. “I have a (Class AA) state title in football and no one else got that this year except for our team.

 

“The other thing is continuing to follow God’s path. Maybe had I not been injured, maybe something worse was in store for me in wrestling that would have cost me a scholarship and a chance to play college football,” Wojociehowicz continued. “I can live with this because I’m going to recover. I don’t know if I could have dealt with that. That’s how I’m staying positive. I’ve got a lot of things still left to do. I’ve got a lot of time.”

 

Josh Wojociehowicz does have a lot of time. He has a whole lot of seconds ahead that will define his future.

 

One second in Wheeling won’t.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Josh Wojociehowicz being helped off the field by wrestling coaches Chris Courtney, left, and Ryan Courtney. Second and third photos show Wojociehowicz in action in the Class AA title game, while he shakes hands with Coach John Cole after the victory. Bottom photo is of Wojociehowicz as he begins the healing process from his injury. Top four photos by Ben Queen and Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com. Bottom photo courtesy of Michelle Wojociehowicz.