Wormell Made 16 Starts Last Season in Rookie Campaign
TULSA – After an impressive rookie season between the posts for FC Tulsa in 2021, goalkeeper Austin Wormell will remain with his hometown club for the upcoming 2022 season after signing a new contract, pending league and federation approval.
It continues an incredible upward trajectory for the 23-year-old, who less than a year ago was in the middle of his senior season at Div. II Rogers State University. After being discovered by head coach Michael Nsien at an open tryout in Tulsa, Wormell was offered a chance to cut his collegiate career short and sign a professional contract in February to be the team’s third-string keeper.
With starting keeper Sean Lewis sidelined with an injury for significant portions of the 2021 season, Wormell worked his way up the depth chart to make 17 league appearances, 16 of which were starts. He finished the season having made 49 saves, posting a 65.3% save percentage, and logging three clean sheets.
“Austin had a season to remember,” said head coach Michael Nsien. “Going into the season, we were hoping to maybe get Austin his pro debut at some point, but he obviously exceeded expectations and took his opportunity when the moments came. Austin’s objectives this season will be ambitious and opportunistic once again, and he has the complete trust of the coaching staff and his teammates. The sky is the limit for Austin, and we look forward to an important year for his growth.”
Not only did FC Tulsa fans, coaches, and teammates take notice of Wormell’s standout performance in his rookie campaign, but so did the USL Championship. The league nominated Wormell for several Save of the Week awards throughout 2021 as well as Save of the Playoffs.
Wormell was in net for the club’s Playoffs clinching result at Indy Eleven and its Wrench winning victory on the final day of the regular season against OKC Energy FC.
“I’m extremely happy to re-sign with my hometown club,” said Wormell. “It means everything to me to be able to wear the crest and play in front of family, friends, and fellow Tulsans. As a team, we have a lot of unfinished business, and we will stop at nothing to bring a trophy to Tulsa.”
A former Tulsa Soccer Club and Blitz United product at the club level, Wormell prepped at Bishop Kelley High School where he won a 5A State Championship in 2017. While he initially played collegiately at Creighton and Oregon State, Wormell would later land at Rogers State where he helped lead the Hillcats to a 2019 GAC/MIAA conference title.
Wormell joins Ciaran Winters as Tulsa natives re-signed to the 2022 roster and will again anchor the keeping core alongside Sean Lewis for the upcoming season.
2022 FC Tulsa Roster
Keepers: Sean Lewis, Austin Wormell
Defenders: Bradley Bourgeois, Jorge Corrales
Midfielders: Eric Bird, Kembo Kibato, Lebo Moloto, Ciaran Winters
Forwards: Darío Suárez
