Just when life and soccer were looking stronger than ever for senior Sebastian Flores, one moment changed everything. 

For most of senior Sebastian Flores’ life, soccer has been more than just a sport. “I started playing soccer as a forward when I was in pre-k, and now I play right wing. My dad was the biggest influence on me playing soccer and he has always motivated me to play more every day,” said Flores. 

From a young age, Flores was known for speed, strength, and his love for the game. By high school, he became a key player, earning a spot on varsity for three years. 

During Flores’ junior season, everything changed in a single moment. On May 14th, 2025, Flores went into a match against Lightridge High School feeling strong, confident, and ready. Until a split-second play altered his future. 

“Lightridge’s goal keeper had the ball and passed it to their center back. I read the play and went up before the play to go take the ball. I stuck my leg out and it got caught in between the players leg and my leg twisted then popped, causing me to tear my ACL,” said Flores. 

Flores was told he had a grade one ACL tear. One wrong play, and suddenly Flores was out for the rest of his junior season. Before the Injury, Flores was in peak condition. He was training daily, competing in games, and preparing for what he hoped would be his best high school season yet. But after the tear, he went from playing everyday to being on bed rest. 

The hardest part for Flores wasn’t just physical. “The mental part of going from playing a sport everyday to being stuck in bed and on the couch with nothing to do was hard. It also affected my ability to see friends since I was limited to certain activities.” 

For the first time in years, he wasn’t sure when he would be back on the field. The ACL repair surgery brought uncertainty of what the future would look like for Flores. “I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to play soccer ever again. I was also nervous to get back on the field as well,” said Flores. 

Rehab and strength training was slow, painful, and frustrating but giving up wasn’t an option for Flores. “My main goal was to come back, especially to high school soccer [as a senior] since it would be my last season playing and I wanted to play with my friends and get back to the competitiveness of the sport,” said Flores. 

Now, Flores is pushing to get back to his fullest potential. “It’s going to be harder because I have to get back to the level I was playing at last season before my injury, but I definitely have more motivation to get better since I came off with a rough injury,” said Flores.

While soccer has shaped a lot of Flores’ life, his ambitions are flying above the field. “My [future] plans are to go to an aviation college and become a commercial pilot,” said Flores. Flores is currently in pilot school and is only a few hours away from getting his licence. 

“I currently fly 172 Cessna Sky Hawk planes, and my goal is to be able to fly commercial planes,” said Flores. Flores’ journey isn’t just about sports, it’s about resilience after the hard obstacles he went through. He entered high school as a talented athlete, and he is leaving with something much greater: learning how to rise after the biggest fall of his life.