TULSA – Nearly a third of the way through the 2021 season, the future is now for FC Tulsa.
Local players helping win matches was always a part of the long-term vision for head coach Michael Nsien and FC Tulsa as evidenced by the several Academy contracts earned by local youth standouts over the last two seasons. However, just 18 months into this new era of the franchise, the fruits of that labor are already paying dividends.
Goalkeeper Austin Wormell and midfielder Ciaran Winters, the pair of local talents signed to professional contracts this past offseason, are now significant contributors for FC Tulsa, helping the club to its current playoff position in the USL Championship’s Central Division.
Both players have been become ingredients to FC Tulsa’s success amidst a rash of early season absences. Already this season, FC Tulsa has had more than a dozen players miss matches through injury, visa issues, international matches or suspensions, forcing Nsien to dig deep into the club’s formidable roster depth and get creative with lineup construction.
“We’re fighters,” said Nsien after FC Tulsa secured a huge 2-1 win on the road against Rio Grande Valley FC in June. “We have guys kind of beat up, guys in and out of the lineup, but big guys play big games…. it’s a warrior mentality, and it’s next man up mentality. When players are off or we’re against adversity, that’s what it’s about.”
That ‘next man up mentality’ has provided opportunities for two of Tulsa’s own in Wormell and Winters, both of whom played under Nsien as youth players in Tulsa.
Wormell, a 2017 Bishop Kelley High School graduate and 5A State Champion, has started in goal in each of FC Tulsa’s last two matches, moving quickly up the depth chart this season through strong preseason performances and in training sessions. In his two starts, the first and second of his professional career, he has allowed just a single goal, an ultimately meaningless one in stoppage time, helping FC Tulsa earn four road points.
The 23-year-old was finishing up his college career at Rogers State University in Claremore when he signed his professional contract in February with FC Tulsa. Wormell is still wrapping up his degree, finishing up one final college class.
“It’s crazy, I still actually have one class left [at Rogers State],” said Wormell following his first career win. “I’m doing an internship right now. I’m still in class so it’s crazy, but it’s awesome [starting for FC Tulsa].”
Wormell’s performance last weekend, while it ultimately didn’t result in a victory against OKC Energy FC, will go down in the Tulsa history books. Never before had a keeper for the Tulsa Roughnecks or FC Tulsa kept a clean sheet in 21 previous Black Gold Derby matchups. In his first start in the rivalry, Wormell did just that, making one save and earning FC Tulsa’s third overall clean sheet of 2021.
Winters, meanwhile, has seen his role grow throughout the 2021 season. While he has yet to make his first professional start, he received his longest run out of the season in FC Tulsa’s Black Gold Derby draw last Friday night. Winters came on as a halftime substitute and his 45 minutes nearly doubled his entire minutes total for the season.
Having just turned 20 years old, Winters already has secured his spot in Tulsa soccer history. In his club debut in FC Tulsa’s season opener, also at OKC, Winters became the first native Tulsan to take the pitch in the new era of the club. As the first Academy signing in club history, Winters is a poster child for what youth players in Tulsa can hope to accomplish – excellence at the youth level, a chance to train with professionals, and eventually earning a professional contract with the hometown club.
That all happened within the span of 12 months for Winters. Now, he is turning heads in the midfield for FC Tulsa, helping secure a road result against its fiercest rival.
“I was on a high, just like when I made my debut on this field,” said Winters after the draw last weekend. “It’s a big rivalry, a big game for us. We always want to win, but one point in a tough match; we will take that, all the time.”
Wormell and Winters have a special connection to this club that is unique amongst players on the roster. Both grew up going to matches at ONEOK Field as fans. They cheered on the Roughnecks against Energy FC and experienced the elation and heartbreak from a fan perspective.
Now, Wormell and Winters can experience that support from fans on the pitch. Nowhere was that more evident than at OKC on Friday night when the traveling FC Tulsa contingent often drowned out the home Energy FC support.
“I didn’t hear OKC fans that much, but I heard the Tulsa fans loud and proud,” said Winters.
If previous matches are any indication, it appears likely that both locals will continue to get chances to make an impact for Tulsa throughout the 2021 USL Championship season, starting with FC Tulsa’s home match on Saturday night against the two-time league champions, Louisville City FC.
It will provide another glimpse into the crystal ball, forecasting a future full of local FC Tulsa soccer stars.
TULSA – Nearly a third of the way through the 2021 season, the future is now for FC Tulsa.
Local players helping win matches was always a part of the long-term vision for head coach Michael Nsien and FC Tulsa as evidenced by the several Academy contracts earned by local youth standouts over the last two seasons. However, just 18 months into this new era of the franchise, the fruits of that labor are already paying dividends.
Goalkeeper Austin Wormell and midfielder Ciaran Winters, the pair of local talents signed to professional contracts this past offseason, are now significant contributors for FC Tulsa, helping the club to its current playoff position in the USL Championship’s Central Division.
Both players have been become ingredients to FC Tulsa’s success amidst a rash of early season absences. Already this season, FC Tulsa has had more than a dozen players miss matches through injury, visa issues, international matches or suspensions, forcing Nsien to dig deep into the club’s formidable roster depth and get creative with lineup construction.
“We’re fighters,” said Nsien after FC Tulsa secured a huge 2-1 win on the road against Rio Grande Valley FC in June. “We have guys kind of beat up, guys in and out of the lineup, but big guys play big games…. it’s a warrior mentality, and it’s next man up mentality. When players are off or we’re against adversity, that’s what it’s about.”
That ‘next man up mentality’ has provided opportunities for two of Tulsa’s own in Wormell and Winters, both of whom played under Nsien as youth players in Tulsa.
Wormell, a 2017 Bishop Kelley High School graduate and 5A State Champion, has started in goal in each of FC Tulsa’s last two matches, moving quickly up the depth chart this season through strong preseason performances and in training sessions. In his two starts, the first and second of his professional career, he has allowed just a single goal, an ultimately meaningless one in stoppage time, helping FC Tulsa earn four road points.
The 23-year-old was finishing up his college career at Rogers State University in Claremore when he signed his professional contract in February with FC Tulsa. Wormell is still wrapping up his degree, finishing up one final college class.
“It’s crazy, I still actually have one class left [at Rogers State],” said Wormell following his first career win. “I’m doing an internship right now. I’m still in class so it’s crazy, but it’s awesome [starting for FC Tulsa].”
Wormell’s performance last weekend, while it ultimately didn’t result in a victory against OKC Energy FC, will go down in the Tulsa history books. Never before had a keeper for the Tulsa Roughnecks or FC Tulsa kept a clean sheet in 21 previous Black Gold Derby matchups. In his first start in the rivalry, Wormell did just that, making one save and earning FC Tulsa’s third overall clean sheet of 2021.
Winters, meanwhile, has seen his role grow throughout the 2021 season. While he has yet to make his first professional start, he received his longest run out of the season in FC Tulsa’s Black Gold Derby draw last Friday night. Winters came on as a halftime substitute and his 45 minutes nearly doubled his entire minutes total for the season.
Having just turned 20 years old, Winters already has secured his spot in Tulsa soccer history. In his club debut in FC Tulsa’s season opener, also at OKC, Winters became the first native Tulsan to take the pitch in the new era of the club. As the first Academy signing in club history, Winters is a poster child for what youth players in Tulsa can hope to accomplish – excellence at the youth level, a chance to train with professionals, and eventually earning a professional contract with the hometown club.
That all happened within the span of 12 months for Winters. Now, he is turning heads in the midfield for FC Tulsa, helping secure a road result against its fiercest rival.
“I was on a high, just like when I made my debut on this field,” said Winters after the draw last weekend. “It’s a big rivalry, a big game for us. We always want to win, but one point in a tough match; we will take that, all the time.”
Wormell and Winters have a special connection to this club that is unique amongst players on the roster. Both grew up going to matches at ONEOK Field as fans. They cheered on the Roughnecks against Energy FC and experienced the elation and heartbreak from a fan perspective.
Now, Wormell and Winters can experience that support from fans on the pitch. Nowhere was that more evident than at OKC on Friday night when the traveling FC Tulsa contingent often drowned out the home Energy FC support.
“I didn’t hear OKC fans that much, but I heard the Tulsa fans loud and proud,” said Winters.
If previous matches are any indication, it appears likely that both locals will continue to get chances to make an impact for Tulsa throughout the 2021 USL Championship season, starting with FC Tulsa’s home match on Saturday night against the two-time league champions, Louisville City FC.
It will provide another glimpse into the crystal ball, forecasting a future full of local FC Tulsa soccer stars.