Sophia Topakas has been a fixture in Archbishop Wood athletics for years – soccer, basketball, flag football – she’s done it all.
And in her senior year, she was part of something historic: the soccer team’s first-ever state championship, a 2-1 overtime thriller over Burrell High School on a goal by senior Kylie Weist Nov. 14 at Northeastern High School in Manchester.
But for Topakas, the season was about more than just the scoreboard. It was about facing the unexpected, finding strength in setbacks, and showing what it means to be a teammate.
Midway through the season, a sudden knee injury during practice on a non-contact play threatened to sideline her entirely.
“I planted and my knee went either in or out, but it definitely popped,” she said. “I didn’t know right away, but I surely had worries because of hearing about people doing this in the past and what they experienced at the time of their injury.”
Wood coach Maria Kosmin raced over to Topakas, who was writhing in pain, hoping for the best. Topakas was hoping, too, but deep down, she knew.
“All I could think about was that I tore my ACL and was going to be done,” Topakas said. “I was in a complete shock because I would never have expected it to happen to me.
“I got checked but it seemed OK. Eventually, I felt fine to go back out but noticed my leg was still sort of unstable. I struck a ball and shot it and felt two or three more pops and my leg locked. That’s when I knew it was serious because I could not walk.”
A doctor’s visit and subsequent MRI confirmed the diagnosis that athletes dread most – a torn ACL and meniscus. Surgery followed, and now a month later, she’s walking without crutches. But the road ahead is a nine-month recovery.
Despite the disappointment, Topakas’ perspective has only deepened.
“The state championship was absolutely awesome and I was so happy for my team and everything they accomplished, but also for me, it was quite upsetting deep down knowing that I couldn’t play sports for the rest of the year or even physically achieve something like that this year,” she said. “When we won, I wasn’t focused that I was injured and all that. I was just so excited for the team and the fact I was able to be there with them and witness and be a part of the amazing and historical win.
“Overall, this taught me that things may not always go in my favor and you can’t always control what happens, but it is so important to still show up for those you care about and celebrate (and) do everything to the fullest.
Topakas appreciates that she was able to witness the championship triumph and not take the experience for granted, “because things could always be so much worse,” she said.
Topakas’ career at Wood is a testament to consistency and excellence. Five Philadelphia Catholic League championships across three sports – three in soccer, one in basketball, and one in flag football, a sport in which she has dominated.
Yet while Topakas has been at the center of significant success, it’s her leadership and attitude that have left the biggest mark.
No one has acquired an understanding of Topakas’ on- and off-field prowess more than Paige Eckert. The two student-athletes spent all their grade-school years together at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School and then four more years next door at Archbishop Wood in Warminster.
“From age 3, we’ve played together – club soccer, travel basketball, school teams – you name it,” said Eckert, the PCL Most Valuable Player who contributed eight goals and three assists during the four-win tournament run. “Sophia is always a problem for the other team, no matter the sport. She knows her role, executes it perfectly, and gets better every year.
“As a teammate, you can always rely on her. She gives her best, always has your back, and elevates everyone around her.”
Sophia Topakas’ story isn’t just about wins, stats, or championships. It’s about resilience in the face of adversity, maturity in moments of disappointment – something she attributes to her family along with her education at Nativity and Wood – and the quiet power of being a teammate who shows up on the field, on the bench, and in life.
Not only a champion on paper, Topakas continues to prove herself a champion in more important ways than athletic success.
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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.
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