When Todd “Hank” Wolters went up for a rebound during an away mid-season basketball game, he had no idea that landing on another player’s foot would set off a chain of events that would ultimately make him a stronger, more complete athlete. The 18-year-old senior at Saints Peter and Paul High School in Easton suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain—and with lacrosse season right around the corner, the clock was ticking.
“I was worried about getting back to lacrosse,” Hank recalls. “I didn’t want to lose time.”
A grade 2 ankle sprain is no minor inconvenience. It involves partial tearing of the ligaments and typically requires more than rest and wrapping to heal properly. While Hank’s doctor provided initial treatment, both Hank and his father, Todd Wolters, followed up with Sts. Peter and Paul’s head athletic trainer, Jeff Bonnette, who is also a PTA at Aquacare Physical Therapy in Easton—a decision that would prove to be a turning point.
Knowing that Hank’s main sport is lacrosse and he is the team’s standout keeper, it was important to act fast, Bonnette said.
Hank was quickly referred to Aquacare Physical Therapy and received a thorough evaluation by Maureen Gordon, MSPT, and a plan of care was set.
Bonnette is a familiar and trusted PTA in Talbot County, having earned recognition as one of the area’s best in the physical therapist category across multiple award cycles. He works regularly with athletes, both in the clinic and on the sidelines at Sts. Peter and Paul, and he brings that experience to bear with every patient who walks through the door.
“Hank came into therapy with pain, swelling, and limited mobility. After managing his acute signs and symptoms, we got right to work restoring his functional mobility and the strength of his ankle, focusing on gaining a full pain-free range of motion. As Hank improved, his balance, proprioception, and stability were all challenged with careful attention to functional movement training to help prevent future injury,” Bonnette said.
For Hank, the work was more involved—and more eye-opening—than he anticipated.
“I expected that working with Jeff would help me get stronger, because I had multiple friends who worked with Jeff and they did very well. My dad had done physical therapy also,” he said. “But I never really thought about my core before.”
Sessions with Bonnette included manual work to his ankle, single-leg balance exercises performed with eyes open and then eyes closed, strengthening exercises to rebuild ankle stability, and aquatic therapy in the pool using specialized equipment to develop core strength.
As Hank progressed, the work evolved into agility ladder drills and plyometric jump training—including exercises that involved dropping from a surface and immediately jumping, designed to retrain how the ankle and body absorb and redirect force.
“We really did a lot with the core and stability,” Hank said. “It definitely taught me a lot. I never really thought about stretching out my legs and ankles and feet.”
The results have shown where it matters most—on the field. Hank is back in goal for the Sts. Peter and Paul lacrosse team this spring, and by his own account, he is playing better than ever.
“I feel stronger and healthier this year,” he said. “Because of Jeff, I feel like I am back to normal.”
Off the field, Hank keeps busy working at St. Michaels Marina, helping get boats back in the water as the season ramps up. Come fall, he will trade the Chesapeake Bay for central Virginia, heading to Randolph-Macon College to study business—and to continue playing lacrosse at the collegiate level.
For Hank Wolters, a stumble on a basketball court turned out to be the beginning of a stronger foundation. And for the athletes of Talbot County, Aquacare Physical Therapy and Jeff Bonnette remain ready to help build that foundation for whoever needs it next.
Aquacare/Fitness Forum Physical Therapy
