After two injuries, O’Connor working to get back onto the field this fall

By Brendan Murphy | gargoyle@flagler.edu

After two injury-prone seasons, Flagler junior Austin O’Connor is looking to bounce back next fall with the men’s soccer team.

The midfielder joined the team two years ago after transferring from Gardner-Webb. But since joining the Saints he’s been hit with major knee injuries. In his first training session with the team, he dislocated his knee and torn his patellar tendon putting him our for the entire season. Returning for the spring season, he re-injured his knee 30 minutes into the first training session.

That time he tore his ACL and medial and lateral meniscus in his right knee.

After missing the past season, he has been working hard to get back on the field.

“He is the most dedicated and hardest working post-surgery athlete that I have ever worked with,” said Jennifer Rinnert, head trainer at Flagler.

Rinnert said he has spent hours each day in training as he tries to get ready for fall.

O’Connor came to Flagler because of the connection that he had with Coach John Lynch. Had has known Lynch for a number of years through attending the coach’s Shamrock Soccer Camp in the summer.

O’Connor said his focus is very simple: “To be ready for the fall.”