During a Week 2 game against Winfield on Sept. 6, 2024, Quinn Schnarre was on top of the world.

As Schnarre sprinted for a 40-yard Wright City touchdown in the third quarter, he was having himself a game. The very next play, he leapt into the air for an interception and the roar of cheers from the fans rose even louder. 

For a split second, he was flying. 

But then he came down…POP. 

“When I came down with the ball, I felt this intense pain in my knee and I heard a pop,” Schnarre said. 

The cheers from the home crowd soon faded as they realized this was not just a simple pain or sore. Limping off the field, the once ecstatic hoots and hollers were soon replaced by supportive chants of “Quinn, Quinn, Quinn.” 

“It was definitely a bit of an emotional swing. We were winning the game. I just had some pretty good plays on both offense and defense,” he said. “Being off to the sideline, watching the rest of the season and not being on the field – it was tough.” 

Schnarre suffered from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during the beginning of his junior football season. 

For 10 months, the now-senior endured intensive physical therapy. 

From stretching to reclaim mobility to relentless weeks of building himself back up to squats, running and jumping, it was not the pain that tested him the most – it was the waiting. 

“It was hard when all I wanted to do was play football,” he said. “The injury made me even more motivated and I wanted to work even harder than I had before to get back on the field with my teammates.” 

Schnarre was officially released to return to play in the beginning of July. While he noted there were some initial nerves when he first stepped onto the familiar terrain, those have undoubtedly subsided. 

“I’m ready. I’ve been itching to get back on the field,” he said.  

Schnarre returns as the same big time hitter, but his mentality has shifted. 

“I’m a lot more mentally tough than I thought I was. If I set my mind to something and put my faith in the right place, I can really overcome anything,” he said. 

 Schnarre is also physically stronger. That fact was proven on July 28 as he shattered the school’s bench press record at 335 pounds. 

“Ten months away from the game made me even more motivated to come back stronger. I knew I couldn’t let the injury stop me, so throughout the offseason I did a lot of training, especially on my upper body, to make sure I wasn’t falling behind,” he said. 

With his senior season waiting for him at the doorstep, every tackle, every snap and every second feels like a gift. 

“I’m going to approach this season with a lot more appreciation for the game and more gratitude for having the opportunity to play again,” Schnarre said. “I have nothing to lose and I’m going to give it everything I have because I know in an instant something could be gone.” 

Come Aug. 29, No. 3 will take the field again and not just as a linebacker. 

“Football means so many things to me. It represents unity, brotherhood, overcoming adversity, grit – I just can’t wait to get back there and prove that after a serious injury I can come back even stronger.”