On September 4, 2024, during a highly anticipated game against rival Steinert High School, Dylan Garnica sustained a devastating injury in the opening soccer match of his senior season. This unexpected moment would alter his life, as he continues to experience the lingering soreness and pain from that day. Dylan, a junior at the time, opens up about the injury to his AC joint in his shoulder, recounting the moments leading up to the incident and the challenging recovery process that followed. He also reflects on how this injury impacted his mental health, affecting his confidence and his ability to play at the level he once did.
I had the opportunity to interview Garnica, gaining valuable insight into his injury and the challenges he faced. We hope that this article, along with his experiences, serves as a reminder to other athletes going through similar struggles. You are not alone.
Can you explain the injury and how you felt during those moments?
I felt like I initially hit my head, so when I hit the ground, I grabbed my head. But then, when I tried to move my arm, it hurt. Instead of holding my head, I put my right arm on my left shoulder and immediately felt the bone out of place. I froze, not knowing what to do. I just remember the ref, my coach, and the trainer all surrounding me, asking what happened. I told them I thought my bone was out of place. The trainer looked and said, “Yeah, we need to get you to the hospital.” At that moment, I was just so scared and knew my senior season was over.
What was your recovery like, and what types of things did you have to do?
The first week or two of recovery was horrible. I couldn’t move my shoulder because of the pain, and it even hurt to walk, so I wasn’t doing much. I got injured the day before the first day of school, and I missed the first week and a half because I was supposed to get surgery. However, I didn’t end up having it because the recovery would’ve been longer, and it could have caused more complications in the future. Once I returned to play, I had to wear a brace, which had a huge impact on the way I played. It was so big and hot that I felt like I would overheat in it at times.
How did senior night feel after everything you’d been through?
Senior night was a bit of a rollercoaster. I had the support of my friends and family there to see me get back on the field. I was counting down the days, so I was excited. That day, I couldn’t wait to be on the field, but I played with so much fear of getting hurt again. After a few plays, I realized my confidence was at an all-time low.
What’s the biggest lesson that injury taught you, and how did those personal struggles change you?
The lesson I learned is that everything happens for a reason, and maybe God was trying to make me stronger both mentally and physically. At that time, I was going through some personal struggles in addition to the injury, so staying positive was really important. I feel like the injury and the personal challenges helped me figure out the person I want to be and helped me mature in a way. I now have a new vision of who I want to become, and I’m currently working toward that. While I know I’m not perfect, I’m confident that one day I will reach the place I want to be.
If you could redo one moment, what would it be?
I’m not sure what exact moment I would redo, but I definitely would have liked to find a way to avoid the injury. If I can’t change the injury, I would have changed the way I prepared myself to come back. I thought I’d be able to return and play at my full ability, but when I couldn’t, I wasn’t mentally prepared for it, and that had a big impact on me.
Do you have any last words?
Honestly, the whole time period was tough for me, and to this day, I look back and wish things had gone differently. My shoulder still bothers me. When I work out or do anything involving force with my left shoulder, it gets sore easily, and on very cold days, I feel discomfort in it. I hope that the more I work out, the more it strengthens and doesn’t get as sore. One thing that won’t change is that I still have the bump on my shoulder, so if you look at my left shoulder, you can still see that it’s slightly lifted.
In conclusion, Dylan Garnica’s journey has been anything but easy. His injury and recovery were full of struggles, pain, and moments of doubt. It wasn’t a smooth path with happy endings, but through it all, Dylan learned a lot about his strength and resilience. His experience reminds athletes that recovery isn’t always quick or easy, and it’s okay to feel frustrated. But no matter how tough it gets, you’re not alone in facing those challenges. Dylan’s story is proof that even in the hardest times, there’s always something to learn and hold onto.
