Susquehannock grad found dead near Va. Tech
Some extremely sad news to pass along... Sam Wendler, 19, a 2009 Susquehannock graduate and student at Virginia Tech, was found dead Friday in Virginia, according to Blacksburg police. The full story on our website can be found here. Wendler played soccer at Susquehannock, and scored the winning goal in the Warriors' 1-0 victory over Pottsgrove in the 2008 Class AA state championship game. A story from that game about Wendler's contributions can be found after the jump. Our thoughts and prayers go out Wendler's family and friends during this most difficult time. *********** Warriors win state soccer title, 1-0: Unlikely hero Sam Wendler scored Susquehannock's lone goal. By Sean Mclernon Daily Record/Sunday News HERSHEY -- Holding his team's newly earned PIAA Class AA boys' soccer championship trophy as dozens of fans roared in approval, Susquehannock senior defender Matt Meszaros had one question. "Where's Sam?" He was referring to Sam Wendler, another senior defender and the player who scored the Warriors' only goal in their 1-0 victory over Pottsgrove on Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. Wendler emerged from a sea of red jerseys, took the trophy, flashed a thumbs up to the stands and soaked up the glory. "I definitely think we were the better team today," Wendler said with a smile. "We did what we needed to when we needed to." For a team unlikely to make it this far -- no YAIAA school had ever reached the soccer state title game in any classification, boys or girls -- Wendler was a somewhat unlikely hero. The defender didn't even play soccer last year when the Warriors reached the state semifinals, choosing to run cross country instead. His classmates talked him into joining them on the soccer pitch in 2008, helping to ensure them all gold medals. "I thought I would come out and get a few minutes on the field, and I got more than that, I guess," Wendler said. "I'm just really glad I decided to do it." It's safe to say the rest of the team feels the same way.