Knights' Zamora bides his time on the sidelines

One day, back in early May, Julio Zamora saw his soccer days nearly leave him before his very eyes.

Zamora, an all-state player in his junior year and a Daily Herald all-area player from Grayslake North, suffered the most serious injury in his lifelong soccer career.

Zamora, while playing in an Academy game for his club team, the Chicago Magic, tore an ACL.

"I just went in wrong on a slide tackle," Zamora said. "All the weight went on the right knee and it popped.

"I wasn't expecting it or anything. This was the worst injury so far. I've had other injuries that were minor, but nothing like this one. I knew something was wrong. I've never had that type of pain before and never expected surgery. I was trying to focus this on hand and not for the future."

Surgery for Zamora was a few weeks later for the ACL and reconstruction of the meniscus.

"Next morning, they bent the knee 90 degrees," Zamora, said. "It wasn't too much fun. Then I had to start therapy right away."

Over the last few months through the summer, Zamora worked hard through therapy and got cleared to start running last Wednesday.

Zamora actually managed to log 2 miles of jogging without any pain.

"I told myself not to push it," Zamora said. "It didn't bother me so I just kept going. I actually had no pain the day after and feel perfectly fine."

The expected time for Zamora's return to the field in his final high school season is sometime next month at the earliest.

"I just have to follow the doctor's orders," Zamora said. "I'm antsy watching the team playing in its first game (on Monday against Crystal Lake South). I want to play, but I know I can't push it and have to hold off. I just get the feeling of wanting to play."

Meanwhile, Brian Stout, a teammate and friend has been giving him support in returning along with the rest of the team.

"I just keep telling him to take it easy and get back when you get back," said Stout, who's been playing on the same soccer teams with Zamora since seventh grade. "I just hate to see him ruin his future in soccer. We want him back when it's the right time.

"When I first heard about it, I thought people were joking. I had to call him and find out the real story. I thought at first, he might be out the entire season, but now it looks like he'll be back earlier."

Zamora has had a strong influence on the Grayslake North varsity program over the first three years.

The Knights went 6-13-1 when Zamora was a freshman. They followed up with a 12-8 mark the next year and posted a 15-6 record last season, winning the Fox Valley's Fox Division title.

Over the three-year span, Zamora has contributed 39 goals and 10 assists. The Knights did play without Zamora for a few games last fall and learned what it takes to succeed without him.

"We know he'll be back," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "Players know how to carry the load, because we played without him last year. We can still win and beat the best teams."

For the future, Zamora wants to take his game to the next level, but for the time being, it's one step at a time in returning for the Knights.

"I'm not sure for college," Zamora said. "I'll see when I get back. I'd like to play in college. I've been playing soccer all my life."