‘SIGNIFICANT IMPACT’
Olentangy Liberty’s Cameron is team’s secret weapon
Ricky Konkolewski didn’t expect to hear from Parker Cameron during the game.
Cameron, a senior captain on the Olentangy Liberty boys soccer team and the No. 2 ranked player in a Gannett poll of the state’s top high school boys, was fresh off surgery. He had injured his knee at the end of July in a scrimmage. But as he watched his Patriots open their season without him on the field, he couldn’t resist texting his coach with thoughts.
“He’s sending me texts from watching the stream at home about what’s going on with the game and different ideas from what he was seeing on TV,” Konkolewski said. “He can’t get away from it . ... We’re really lucky, because there’s a lot of guys who maybe focus more on club as compared to high school. He truly loves the high school aspect of it.”
It goes without saying that missing the first six or so weeks of his senior year wasn’t in Cameron’s plans for this fall. He’s still in the process of sorting out his college options, and getting hurt before the season even started makes an already complex process trickier.
But Cameron isn’t thinking about that right now.
“I took it as a chance to be able to coach the younger guys on the sideline and help them out because, obviously, I can’t do much about (the injury),” Cameron said. “My goal is just to be there for the younger guys and be able to help them out.”
Cameron was Liberty’s only returning starter when Konkolewski was hired at the beginning of the 2020 season and helped the Patriots to a 15-2-1 record last year, while leading a defense that posted 12 shutouts.
Though the circumstances aren’t ideal, having a chance now to help the young players on the team grow and develop is something Cameron has enjoyed thus far. As a two-year captain, he takes his role as a leader seriously.
“Obviously, there’s mishaps here and there, but they’re fixable and it’s over time, since we have such a young team,” Cameron said. “They’re a bit shy, so talking’s a big factor. And just certain movements with the defense, figuring that out.”
From Konkolewski’s perspective, Cameron has been even more involved with the team while dealing with the injury than he was before.
“He can’t be on the field, and it’s driving him crazy,” Konkolewski added. “He’s gonna be back better and stronger, and I really do believe that. He’s really ready to get back in there, and I know other teams probably aren’t excited to hear that because he will be back.”
When Cameron does return to the field, which is expected to be in early October, Konkolewski expects him to make an immediate impact. Prior to the injury, the plan was for Cameron to take on a larger role in the attack this year and not be limited to his defensive role as a center back.
That’s still the plan, but Konkolewski is keeping his options open to slot
Cameron into the lineup wherever he’ll help the Patriots the most — a secret weapon of sorts, just in time for the playoffs.
“We are absolutely looking forward to be able to put him where we’re going to need him most,” Konkolewski said. “A lot of that is going to be on the attack and maybe on defense if we need him there. He’s gonna be everywhere, not just stuck in the back as he was last year.
“... We’re very fortunate because we’re kinda like, ‘Hey, once we figure things out in October, we’re just gonna be able to get that much better.’ Wherever our Achilles is, Parker is gonna be able to help. He’s gonna make such a significant impact when he comes back.” bjohnson@dispatch.com @baileyajohnson_