From the Bench: Offseason Shoulder Surgery Latest Team-First Mentality Example by Soccer's Pomeroy
By Jeff Toquinto on August 31, 2025 from Sports Blog
Like any other sport, soccer requires a focus on team if a program is expected to win. What that usually means is putting team before yourself.
For going on his fourth year now, Bridgeport High School senior Tucker Pomeroy has epitomized the team-first mantra. He is a four-year starter on the successful Indians program and plays central defender, or center back.
Those closest to soccer know the position’s importance. Those who read the headlines and stories after them will not see the key defensive names as some of those manning the key offensive posts in sports write ups.
If it was just giving up the media publicity and playing at an important level, then Pomeroy would safely fit into that type of team first player coaches want. Pomeroy, however, has done even more.
As a junior, he spent his entire season playing with a torn labrum. And to get ready for his senior season, he underwent surgery that left him unable to play serious soccer for six months to be ready for the season he’s playing right now.
So, how did it happen?
“During my sophomore year a couple of friends on the tennis team asked me to try out and play, and eventually, that’s how I got hurt,” said Pomeroy. “Leading up to the injury, I had some pain in my (left) shoulder and just thought it was sore from the wear and tear.”
The soreness took on a whole new definition when he advanced to the regionals and was playing in his final match. Everything went wrong in one moment.
“I guess I swung too hard, and my shoulder just popped. Tearing the labrum wasn’t so bad, but the shoulder dislocation was painful. It was for sure the worst pain I’ve experienced,” Pomeroy said of the May 2024 incident. “I couldn’t move my arm; it was numb and tingly. I knew something was wrong.”
And that thought process led to a thought that left him concerned.
“I started getting uncertain about how bad it was, and I didn’t know how it was going to impact me for playing soccer when my junior year started,” said Pomeroy.
Eventually, Pomeroy went to orthopedic specialist. The suggested route was surgery with a six-month recovery time.
“I would have missed all of last year’s soccer season, so we decided to possibly look at getting by without surgery,” said Pomeroy.
Rehab and work allowed him to get through what was a solid season for the Indians. It did not end with a state tournament berth, but it was yet another solid campaign.
After the season ended, and before the start of the current 2025 season and the 2025 calendar year (December of 2024 to be exact), Pomeroy had another issue. He dislocated his shoulder a second time.
“Part of me was glad for the second dislocation because I realized I needed to have the surgery. Before surgery, even before the second dislocation, it didn’t feel the same and wasn’t as stable,” he said. “It now feels as good as it ever has.”
Surgery was in Morgantown. Dr. Gregory Purnell did the successful repair on Feb. 1, 2025. And that was followed by six months of 
rehabilitation before being cleared for full contact at the start of this August.
rehabilitation before being cleared for full contact at the start of this August.
“I had to put in a lot of time for rehab, and I have to thank Christa Randolph and everyone at Bridgeport Physical Therapy because it went as smooth as possible,” said the four-year starter.
The six-month rehab process saw him return to non-contact soccer activities after three months. Then, when practice started this month, he was fully cleared.
“Once I get into the game, I don’t think about it. I have 100 percent trust in Krista and Dr. Purnell,” said Pomeroy. “No matter what happens this year, this has been worth it to be back on the field.”
The effort was not lost on Coach Keith Dumas, who for the second year in a row, has Pomeroy as one of the team captains.
“To see what these kids will do, a kid like Tucker, in sacrificing taking care of their bodies or playing through injuries is something to see,” said Dumas. “… I’ve been really happy with him in the early going and I was really happy to see just how much rehab he did, beyond our practices, to get back to the level he wants to be at.”
The level he is at, thanks to setting an example on and off the field, is that of the team leader, which is magnified by his captain status. That, too, is something Dumas thinks puts Pomeroy in rarified air.
“Very much he’s a team leader. He’s in charge of the whole back line and those in front of him. He’s the one who has to get on players when they’re not doing their job,” said Dumas. “Overall, he’s a good kid who is well liked and gets on teammates when he needs to. It’s good to see even after he gets on someone, they still gravitate to him. When you can get on someone and they still like and respect you,
that’s a leader.
that’s a leader.
“We’ve got good kids like that on this team, a truly fun team to coach,” Dumas continued. “Because of that, we have the chance to be special this year in Class AAA.”
As the season progresses, and the media reports are filed, chances are you will not see Pomeroy’s name as prominently mentioned as others. Pomeroy, who is also getting a chance to see a lot of playing time with his brother Paxton, is fine with that.
“Honestly, I love it back there on defense with Andrew (Dumas) at goalkeeper and so many other talented players. None of us mind letting the offensive guys do their thing,” he said. “We’ve got Grayson Church and so many others more than capable of handling the offense.”
Dumas said players like Pomeroy know the accolades are limited when they fill in for some of the most critical roles on the soccer team.
“He knows he’s not going to get the glory that comes from goal scoring or leading in assists, but without guys like him on the back line who are preventing the other team from scoring we’re not even close to as good as we are or have been,” Dumas said, who added that 
Pomeroy is easily among the top five defenders in Class AAA in the entire state. “He’s key because in our key games he’s playing every single minute, and he thrives on doing his job and making sure everyone else does theirs. That’s important if we get to where we want to get this year.”
Pomeroy is easily among the top five defenders in Class AAA in the entire state. “He’s key because in our key games he’s playing every single minute, and he thrives on doing his job and making sure everyone else does theirs. That’s important if we get to where we want to get this year.”
For Pomeroy, the destination is simple. And for a player who said he will not be competing on the collegiate level, it is even more critical to get there.
“The goal, the hope, is that the season ends in at the state championship,” said Pomeroy. “I 100 percent believe we have all the tools to get there, and I think we’ll all be disappointed if we don’t reach our goal. I say that knowing it won’t be easy to get there because we’ve got some tough teams in our region. I just like our chances because this is a team in every sense of the word.”
Dumas said if they get there, Pomeroy will be a key reason for it – repaired shoulder included.
“We couldn’t have the success without him,” said Dumas. “If he’s not there, I don’t know who I would replace him with, and that speaks volumes.”
Editor's Note: Top photo, courtesy of the Pomeroy family, shows Tucker Pomeroy after recent successful surgery on his shoulder. Action photos courtesy of the family, and by Joe LaRocca.
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