Ligonier Valley’s Cameron Kunkle won’t let injury steal senior season

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, August 15, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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When Cameron Kunkle tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee during basketball season, his doctor told him recovery time would take 12 months.

The 6-foot-2, 178-pound senior went for a second opinion. That doctor gave him better news: He could be back in six months.

After he had surgery to repair his knee Feb. 7, the Ligonier Valley senior went to work strengthening the knee in the weight room and with therapy.

On the first day of practice with pads Aug. 11, Kunkle was on the field. His doctors had cleared him to practice.

Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said he never expected to see Kunkle on the field until midseason.

“Cameron brings a lot of flexibility to the squad,” Beitel said. “He is a big kid on the offensive side. He has good skill set. He started as a receiver last year, and he gives us a pass-catching skill along with a blocking skill.

“He also adds to our depth and to our competition. On the defensive side, he played free safety. We may move him to cornerback. He has great length, which allows us to move him around.”

Kunkle said he really does not know how he hurt his knee. He made a move and went down.

“Some people said I hurt it playing football, and others say it was in basketball,” Kunkle said. “When the first doctor said the rehab would take nine to 12 months of recovery, it kind of broke my spirit a little bit. Then I was told by another doctor it was like six months recovery. I was pleased and went to work.”

Even though Kunkle could not go full bore at summer workouts, he continued to work out and encourage his teammates.

“He became a leader,” Beitel said. “What people do not understand is how difficult it is mentally for someone that is a teenager to go through like that. Basketball was something he did for the first time. It was a freakish thing. He just planted the wrong way.

“His doctors and physical therapist told him that knee is stronger than his right knee. He is a little hesitant, but once he starts to gain more confidence, he will be fine. Getting him back is big.”

Kunkle caught 11 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown last year. He’s hoping his productivity goes up. On defense, he had 59 tackles (42 solo) and recovered a fumble.

Kunkle said teammate Bowie Schreyer motivated him to work hard.

“He pushed me,” Kunkle said. “I had a lot of odds against me. I lifted every day, and then I had physical therapy. It was focusing on my left knee and getting as strong as possible.”

Kunkle said he never got discouraged because “Coach Beitel really helped me through it, and my teammates supported me a lot.”

“I never got sad about it,” Kunkle said. “I get to play my senior year after I was told I was not going to be able to. I am looking forward to the season.”

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Ligonier Valley