Guys...with a tourney game coming up in two days and with our team's almost legendary inability to score goals, I'm wondering about the status of soph forward Austin Stamey from TC Roberson? He came to App as an oft honored 4A high school striker...named to all-state teams, high school all-America teams and all-everything teams...and holder of a page-full of all-time records at Skyland Roberson...and supposedly one of the best players that Rob Wilcher ever coached--and he's coached quite a few.

According to official team stats, Stamey appeared in 17 games as a freshman in 2014. He was a starter in four of those games. This season, he's appeared in only four contests--and none since Sept. 13; no starts. His only recorded stat this season was a YC in the ETSU game.

Did he suffer a season-ending injury? Quit the team? Not as good as advertised? Coaches give up on him or what? His player vitae would make one think that he could really help us up the middle and in the box.

Thanks in advance for your reply(s).

Austin had very significant surgery on both legs over the summer; something you don't bounce back from overnight. My understanding was he had a somewhat rare circulation issue that created lack of blood flow in his legs and the surgery was perhaps intricate. He tried to return to play at the beginning of the season, but needed more recovery time and decided to redshirt.

Thanks DoubleA. I just came on and was answering a question in the recruiting thread. I was going to answer here but you got it.

I believe coaches were expecting Austin to play a significant role this season, if not for injury.

In other soccer news, tried Mike's Inland Seafood and it was surprisingly great! Have passed by there many times, and mostly joked that you don't go to the mountains to eat seafood. A family friend recommended, so we gave it a try - and met Mike, ASU soccer alum.

His injury is called Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. This is where you actually have to much leg muscle and it restricts the blood flow to the lower legs.

From my understanding, he was misdiagnosed by the team doctor last fall and had to go to his personal doctor back home. Austin was referred to a dr at UVA and that is where it was finally discovered by an MRA. He tried to come back to early and wasn't ready. The normal recovery time for this type of injury is a year. He tried to come back in 3 to 4 months. I hope he will receive a medical red shirt from the Sunbelt conference for this season.

I also understand that there is a girl on the WSOC team that has the same thing. I read a little about this type injury. It is a very complicated injury to wrap your mind around.

DoubleA wrote:Austin had very significant surgery on both legs over the summer; something you don't bounce back from overnight. My understanding was he had a somewhat rare circulation issue that created lack of blood flow in his legs and the surgery was perhaps intricate. He tried to return to play at the beginning of the season, but needed more recovery time and decided to redshirt.

Thanks for the info. I recall that someone mentioned "injuries" as being a factor in several disappointing losses in the early season, but no specifics were mentioned. The situation with AStamey is downright frightening. Is it known if his recovery is going well?

Since you mentioned Mike at Mike's Inland Seafood as one of our former players, you'll want to read this article from the Asheville CITIZEN-TIMES about another former Mountaineer--Rob Wilcher. Rob's one of our legendary players from the 1982-85 teams. He was a four-time All-Southern Conference player.



Rob has been the head boy's and girl's soccer coach at Skyland (NC) T. C. Roberson for almost 30 years. He has announced his semi-retirement. He's hands-down the most successful high school soccer coach in Western NC--and perhaps in the entire state.

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/spor ... /75412294/

Great story! Thanks for sharing

Rob is a great person. I met him when he did wrestling at Freedom Hi along with soccer. Very gracious tournament host and will share any knowledge he has.