Carry On: Severna Park Running Back Overcomes Injuries To Lead Falcons Backfield

Severna Park High senior Jonathan Wark is no stranger to overcoming adversity.

For 11 months between 2023 and 2025, he rehabbed and worked out with the goal to play football again. He dislocated his elbow during his sophomore season and suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee the following year.

The recovery became Wark’s obsession for two reasons: playing his last year of high school football and getting on a path to competing in the sport in college.

“I really did as much work as I could,” said Wark, who had surgery on his knee but not his elbow.

If it wasn’t for the injuries, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Wark might have picked a college by now. Wark said he is in the best shape of his life after adding 25 pounds since his sophomore year. All the weightlifting and work with a physical therapist rehab – including two-hour weightlifting sessions and one and half hours with a physical therapist on some days – has made him quicker and stronger.

“He is really a workout guy and a lifter,” Severna Park football head coach Nick Marks explained. “He is really very strong.”

Picture this: Wark also wrestles and has the physique of a championship-caliber grappler.

“I really want to play football in college,” Wark said. “It’s really important to me. I told coach Marks, ‘I want to play college football.’ And he has helped me with the process.”

The 17-year-old Wark spent a lot of time in October putting together a video of his highlights to send to college coaches. He’s had some great clips to use from this season.

Wark led Severna Park in rushing (678 yards) and touchdowns (six) this fall as the team reached the postseason and beat Crofton to win the program’s first playoff game since 2008. He carried the ball 146 times. With that type of production, he may be making up for lost time.

“We missed him last year, and it did lead to a void,” Marks said of Wark missing nine games. “We had to bring up some younger kids (from JV) who weren’t ready yet. This year, we have more rushing yards than passing yards. That’s what we want to do, and we couldn’t do it last year.”

Wark had some memorable games this season. He led the Falcons to their first victory over Old Mill since 2018 by rushing for 98 yards and a touchdown. He showed he can carry a heavy workload by rushing for 135 yards on 29 carries in a loss to Northeast.

“He is really good at reading the defense, finding the hole and using the cutback lanes,” Marks said. “He also likes contact. He won’t shy away from anybody. He likes to lower his shoulder and run over people.”

Marks raved about Wark’s leadership skills. The two-year co-captain is an emotional leader and makes it a priority to help underclassmen on and off the field. Marks also has an impact inside the weight room, setting examples in many ways for his teammates.

“He took over as captain as a junior,” Marks said. “I have been coaching high school football for a long time (20 years), and I have not seen that many juniors voted team captain. He is so valuable to the team.”