Lewisburg soccer player bounces back after horrific leg injury

In October 2023, during his sophomore season of soccer at Lewisburg Area High School, Isaac Ayres was sprinting toward the goal, chasing a perfectly timed through-ball. It was the kind of play every forward dreams about — just him and the keeper, one on one. Ayres planted his left leg, wound up and struck the ball cleanly.

The shot rocketed past the goalie into the back of the net. 

Ayres never saw it go in.

Instead of celebrating, he had collapsed on the turf. 

“I thought I collided with the goalie. I felt a pop and pain. I knew immediately something was wrong,” he said. “My knee didn’t look right, and my teammates were grossed out.”

For more than 30 minutes, Ayres lay on the turf as trainers worked to stabilize his leg and keep him calm until paramedics arrived.  His mother, Kori Ayres, remembers the chaos vividly.

“We were in full crisis mode,” she said. “We didn’t know the extent of the injury, we just knew he was in excruciating pain.”

At Geisinger Medical Center, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Mark Seeley, M.D., delivered the news no parent wants to hear.

Ayres had sustained a Type IV tibial tubercle fracture, a rare and severe Salter-Harris injury. The force of the play had ripped his patellar tendon upward with such intensity that it shattered his upper shin into six fragments and pulled his kneecap into his thigh. 

“Compared to common sports injuries, this was at the extreme end,” Dr. Seeley said.  “This wasn’t something that snaps back into place. It required reconstructive surgery to realign the joint surface, protect the growth plates and rebuild the connection that allows the knee to straighten.” 

The following morning, Ayres underwent a lengthy operation. Dr. Seeley meticulously pieced the shattered tibia back together, repositioned the kneecap and reattached the damaged tendons.

But the danger wasn’t over.

Following surgery, Ayres was closely monitored for compartment syndrome, a potentially limb-threatening complication where swelling can cut off circulation and permanently damage muscles and nerves. 

“I was a tiny bit nervous before the surgery,” he said.  “I knew it was relatively complex, but I trusted Dr. Seeley. Even with the pain and not being able to sleep, I knew I was in good hands.”

After four days in the hospital, Ayres went home and began on the road to recovery. He missed two and a half weeks of school. After six weeks, he ditched the crutches and started physical therapy, determined to get back on the field with his teammates.

“My physical therapist and the athletic trainer knew my goals,” Ayres said. “I was motivated. Anything they told me to do, I did. I felt like I flew through recovery.”

By March, just five months after the injury that could have ended his career, he returned to the field with his club team.
 
Fast forward to his senior year. Ayres helped lead Lewisburg to an undefeated season (24-0-1), a district championship and the state title, defeating another unbeaten team. He finished his high school career with 42 goals, a testament to his talent and hard work.

“Two years ago, we wondered if he’d ever play again,” Kori Ayres said. “To see him finish on such a high note — it’s unbelievable.”

Ayres isn’t pursuing soccer in college, but the experience shaped him in deeper ways.

“I loved being a part of this team. It was a great experience, but soccer isn’t my whole life,” he said. “I have other goals and things I want to do. I am looking at the University of Pittsburgh or Baruch College business school in Manhattan.”

He remains grateful for the care that helped him finish his high school soccer career.

“I am so thankful for Dr. Seeley and the care he provided. He had a genuine interest in my well-being,” Ayres said. “It was great being around him and the Geisinger team. You could tell that they love what they do and genuinely care about patients.”

Dr. Seeley, in turn, credits Ayres.

“Injuries like this can sideline athletes for years, and some never make it back to competitive play,” he said. “Isaac defied those odds. His return was fueled by relentless work, discipline and a support system that never let him quit.”