Clotheslining Cancer

Dan Kornberg knows the power of conditioning both body and mind. As a commanding high school athlete, he looked forward to new challenges at the University of Pittsburgh, especially those found on the wrestling mat. Then, just as his sophomore year was approaching, cancer crept in. Through chemotherapy treatments and self-disciplined workouts, Kornberg, now entering his senior year, leaves the doubters and the disease behind.

 

 

What annoys a young college athlete, strong and adaptable in both mind and body, more than anything?

Exams? Term papers? Losing a match to a tough opponent?

Dan Kornberg, now a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and a force to be reckoned with on the men’s wrestling team, has struggled with all of the usual adjustments to new routines and challenges that the majority of young college students…well, wrestle with. But just as Kornberg was settling into his sophomore year, after spending his freshman year trying to figure out just how to balance rigorous workouts and practices with a full course load, the biggest setback yet occurred.

Kornberg was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer of the bones. But for Kornberg, it merely meant it was time to work a little harder – again.

 Always Dreaming Bigger

At Kornberg’s high school alma mater, Edgemont, he was a well-rounded athlete involved in lacrosse, football, track and field – but his greatest passion has continued to be wrestling. By the eighth grade, Kornberg had such an imposing frame for his age that he was already competing at the varsity level. As senior captain, he had his sights set on a Section I Division 2 championship run. But it was not to be.

Despite his five years of competitive training at Edgemont, Kornberg entered the Pitt program as a bottom-of-the-barrel newbie, facing off against varied All American talent, wrestlers with advanced technique. His new coaches, Jason Peters and Matt Wilps, saw much room for improvement early on in regards to Kornberg’s overall athleticism and wrestling skill.

“I think that Dan still has a long way to go if he really wants to compete at a high level of Division I, but he’s gotten better and that’s a challenge for us to keep improving every day,” Peters said, shortly after Kornberg’s diagnosis. “Sometimes the work you put in doesn’t reflect in the results, but if you want to work really hard like he has, good things will happen for you.”

 With a fighting spirit and dogged determination, Kornberg was undeterred, even after he strained his knee during practice in October 2013. He finished out the practice, basically un-phased by the injury at that moment:

“It wasn’t unbearable. It was more of an annoyance… I had the mentality that if this happens in a match unless I can’t walk I have to fight through it.”

That was exactly the mentality Kornberg needed most when an MRI, surgical biopsy and chest CT scan were ordered by UPMC Shadyside Hospital’s Dr. Richard McGough, and cancer was the eventual diagnosis. Instead of reeling, Kornberg and his parents, Elaine and Bob (who are both physicians themselves), were grateful that a minor meniscus tear identified the coincidentally adjacent malignant tumor before it grew and spread.

Through rounds of chemotherapy before and after surgery, Kornberg had to accept that both his academic and athletic careers were on hold – temporarily. Support from the Pitt wrestling team was paramount to keeping his hopes high, as he took a blanket signed by the entire team to each treatment.

Assistant coach Wilps surmised that Kornberg’s can-do attitude ultimately got him through.

“He sort of handles it just like he handles the sprints,” Wilps said. During his freshman year, “he had a tough time with the sprints and he would just keep at it.” Kornberg exercised self-discipline that summer, going for solo runs three times a week, while other wrestlers focused more on bulking up. Kornberg wanted to be sure he was always moving forward, on the right path and at a pace that would ensure he was not left behind.

“I want to show people that you can function, you can do well and you can’t let it run your life. I approach it as more of an annoyance,” Kornberg said.

 

Don’t Call it a Comeback

Kornberg managed to finish projects and course work on time during treatment, even meeting the requirements for his induction to the National Honor Society of leadership and success.

 Coach Peters had three main goals for Kornberg following his diagnosis: get healthy, return to school, and graduate from Pitt.

One, check.

Kornberg’s latest diagnostic testing found no traces of cancer in his body.

Two, check.

Returning to Pitt a mere month after wrapping up treatment in September 2014, Kornberg has more than compensated for his short time off -- he is only about one semester behind schedule.

Three, almost checked.

He is now on track to graduate with a B.A. in Political Science with minors in History and Legal Studies. He maintains a 3.54 GPA, and plans to attend law school after graduation.

 But, what about wrestling, the passion that gave Kornberg the drive to push through it all?

Kornberg is back and active on the team, in the heavyweight division once more at 6’2” and 245 lbs. He even participates in Olympic weight lifts.

 

Getting a Hold On the Future

Above all, Kornberg is sharing his experiences and unfailing optimism with others. Now an assistant wrestling coach with the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club, Kornberg is fostering the passion of young wrestlers, while offering them foundational lessons about life in general.

“I enjoy being able to help coach high-school and youth kids focusing in on not only developing them as wrestlers, but helping them to mature as young adults outside of the sport as well. I attempt to maintain a positive atmosphere for the kids allowing them to understand how to properly develop as a person and pass on my knowledge and insight.”

Kornberg also extends his compassion for the younger generation as a volunteer with child-life services for oncology patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Kornberg wants to instill “the importance of having a positive mindset in life.”

There will be plenty more “annoyances” throughout Kornberg’s life. But for now, after having cancer pinned and down for the count, it’s time to look forward to hard work at the fun stuff, again.