Goodrich head coach Evan Huizenga wasn't sure his side would see Tyler Collins at all this season. The junior, a second-team all-Flint Metro League honoree, had hip surgery in early June, and recovery timelines for that kind of procedure aren't exactly predictable.
"He had a surgery on his hip in early June, and we were unsure if we would see him this season," Huizenga said. "Recovery and physical therapy went really well so he was medically cleared to join us the Tuesday following Labor Day."
Collins wasted no time making up for lost ground. He made his season debut on Sept. 9 against Lake Fenton, with Goodrich trailing 1-0 in the second half, and scored the equalizer almost as soon as he stepped back onto the pitch.
Since that return, Collins has been the difference-maker Goodrich needed. He's scored six goals and added an assist across six games, and the Martians have gone 4-2 in that stretch.
A Team Boost, Not Just a Scoring Boost
Huizenga points to more than just the goal tally when explaining why Collins' return has mattered so much.
"His impact on the field is very obvious as he is a distributor and a creator for our offense," Huizenga said. "When you add in a player with high IQ for the sport, the overall ability level of the team rises. I think the team, having him suited up, also increased confidence."
That kind of impact didn't go unnoticed outside the locker room either. Collins topped the Flint-area Athlete of the Week poll with 7,005 votes, edging out Grand Blanc football standout Ashton Brown, who finished with 5,576, in a race that stayed tight for most of the week.
Where Goodrich Stands
Injuries have been a recurring issue for Goodrich this season, and Collins' return comes at a useful time. The Martians sit at 3-2 in Flint Metro League play, still overall 6-5-1, while Flushing holds the top spot in the league standings at 5-0.
There's still a good chunk of the schedule left for Goodrich to close that gap, and having a player like Collins back on the field gives them a real chance to do it.
"His biggest strength as a player is that he has the ability to rally his teammates," Huizenga said. "I mean this by his work ethic, his confidence on the field and his vision to see the field and give us a great chance to add to our side of the scoreboard."
