Wrestling community steps up to help injured Messiah College wrestler Hunter Zondory

Hunter Zondory surrounded by Messiah College teammates.

On Sept. 16, 2016, Messiah College freshman wrestler Hunter Zondory suffered a life changing injury on the wrestling mat.


Zondory, a product of Jersey Shore, Pa., was at a voluntary team practice that was run by the veteran wrestlers of the team.


In the finals minutes of practice, the squad was wrestling live. Zondory and his partner came down awkwardly in a scramble, and the landing left Zondory laying on the mat unable to move his legs.


Members of the athletic training staff rushed to his side and emergency medical professionals were called upon. Zondory was quickly flown to Hershey Medical Center about 20 miles away.


He underwent a six-hour surgery that determined he suffered a severe neck injury, sustaining multiple fractures to his cervical vertebrae and bruising on his spinal cord.


He spent three weeks at Hershey before being transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Pittsburgh. Zondory has been at Magee for about two weeks and is slowly but surely starting to regain some of his motor skills. As he works on his speech and improving the use of his arms and hands, he is also spending multiple hours a day to gain strength and movement in his legs.


Thankfully, his spinal cord was not punctured or severed, giving Zondory a higher chance of full recovery in his legs.


“Hunter is a pretty determined kid, and he’s fighting pretty hard. His goal is to walk back on campus as a student next fall. He’s focused on the positives,” said Messiah College head wrestling coach Bryan Brunk.


He can now scrunch his toes, lift his leg about an inch and is using a harness on a treadmill, with the help of doctors and nurses, to teach his legs how to walk again. There is still quite a ways to go.


Since the accident, Brunk and members of the Messiah College wrestling team have made several visits, stayed in contact daily with Zondory through texting and social media and have put together ways to help raise money for Hunter and his family.


“The guys are doing a whole bunch of project to raise money for him and they’re doing it with their own money,” Brunk said. “One of our guys got a bunch of bracelets made up and is selling them on campus. Another one of our guys is selling t-shirts on campus. These guys fronted the money to have these things made and they’re giving 100 percent of the proceeds to Hunter’s parents. They’re doing everything they can to support Hunter and become closer as a team.”


Members of the Zondory family, who Brunk says have not wavered in their faith, have stayed by Hunter’s side through it all, stepping away from their jobs and ultimately putting their lives on hold.


Not only have those close to him shown their support but also the wrestling community, in general, has stepped up in a big way.


“Hunter has been really encouraged by some of the messages he’s got and the visitors he’s received. That’s continued to help lift his spirits, knowing that people are behind him,” Brunk said.


Among those visitors are members of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center, including Olympic champion Brandon Slay and current men’s freestyle stars Richard Perry, BJ Futrell and Chase Pami.


“I know that meant a lot to Hunter,” Brunk said. “It was humbling to see these guys, who are big time in our sport, not even worry about that fact that he’s a freshman at a DIII school, but they see him as a brother in the sport.”


In addition, several college programs reached out to Zondory like Drexel University and Central College as well as Messiah rival Heidelberg University.


Central College head coach Eric Van Kley and his squad put forth a challenge to help raise awareness of Zondory’s situation as well as encourage people to donate to help his medical expenses. For details on the challenge, check out this video.


Zondory was a two-time Pennsylvania state qualifier and, according to Brunk, fun to watch.


“I got to see him compete in high school. He was a super talented wrestler, a super funky wrestler,” Brunk said. “He would do all kinds of crazy things with his body. You could think you had him in trouble, but he would pull out some funky move and you would end up pinned. He was a fun wrestler to watch and definitely had a flair about his style. He also had a quiet confidence when he was out on the mat.


“I’m told him that if everything works out and he comes back to Messiah, even though he may not be wrestling, he’ll be on our roster and a part of our team.”


Those who wish to donate and help Hunter and the Zondory family can do so at the family’s GoFundMe page.