Lincoln's Wilson overcomes disability

Abraham Lincoln's John Christopher Wilson isn't one to talk your ear off. That's OK. Plenty is said about him by the way he gracefully blends in as just another player in a gold-and-black colored uniform.

Wilson's teammates let you know about his strong open-field tackling skills, his quickness, his positive leadership, and his kicking ability. Little, if anything, is said about a perceived disability.

Though born with half a right arm, Wilson, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior, contributes for the Railsplitters as a free safety, wide receiver (yes, a receiver) and placekicker. Contributes, as in plays regularly and productively.

Joe McCausland, Lincoln's junior quarterback, may have summed it up best. "We don't look it as a disability," he said. "It's just John."

Wilson - known as John by most teammates, but called Chris by family and friends - has been playing football since he was a youngster. First with the Far Northeast Knights, then with the North Philly Aztecs.

His right arm extends to just short of where his elbow would be. The 17-year-old says he wore several prosthetics when he was about 2 or 3, without success. "They just kept breaking, because I was too strong for them," he said.

Each of us has heard that we can't do - or won't be good at - one thing or another. When it comes to football and other facets of his life, Wilson has had more than his fair share of naysayers. And he has been a tower of resiliency.

"I just look at myself the same as everyone," he said. "If someone looks down on me or says I can't do something, I try to prove them wrong. That just makes me more determined."

As a youngster, Wilson endured more than his fair share of teasing. There were many trying days at C.W. Henry Elementary School in Mount Airy, and Baldi Middle School in Northeast Philly.

Wilson says he draws much of his strength from a highly supportive family. His parents, Vivian and Eric Stephens, and grandparents, Ernestine Crosby-Haynes and Charles Haynes, are firmly in his corner.

"They know people are going to say bad stuff to me," said Wilson, who lives near Broad and Wyoming Streets in North Philly. "They say not to pay attention to any of it, to just go out and do my best."

Wilson, in his second year at Lincoln, makes catches by using his left arm to bring the ball into his chest, then cradling it with the help of his right arm.

"He catches better than a lot of other kids on our team," McCausland said.

And tackling? "I use my body and then my left arm to wrap the player up," Wilson said.

If that wasn't enough, Wilson also serves as Lincoln's placekicker. He booted a 33-yard field goal (and had two catches totaling 15 yards) in a 7-3, season-opening loss to Dobbins.

Like others, Railsplitters coach Gene Kelly first had to see for himself that Wilson could catch and tackle. And now?

"Obviously, he's a very good player," Kelly said. "He wouldn't be out there as much as he is if he wasn't. We downplay his situation totally. We don't even talk about it as if he's handicapped."

Wilson says he just likes playing football and being part of the team. He doesn't really see himself as an inspiration, which makes him even more likable. But not all agree with that.

"He's an all-around great player," McCausland said. "When you see him make the plays he does, it has to inspire you."

It does, indeed.