Tristen’s comeback: How an LSU freshman overcame an ACL tear with expert orthopedic care at Manning Family Children’s

When 18-year-old Tristen Kimball stepped onto the mat at a high school wrestling tournament in March 2025, he had no idea it would be one of his final matches. The Houma native—now a first-year economics student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge—had trained hard and wrestled all season with confidence. Then, mid-match, a complex move called a spladle changed everything.

“I turned to execute the move and I dislocated my knee,” Tristen said. “I tore my ACL and meniscus.”

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a key stabilizer that prevents the shin bone from sliding forward. A torn ACL can’t heal on its own and typically requires surgical reconstruction. The meniscus, a cartilage cushion between the thigh and shin bones, can sometimes heal naturally if the tear is small. In Tristen’s case, his meniscus healed, but his ACL was completely torn.

At first, Tristen didn’t realize how serious the injury was.

“I was able to walk even though my leg was swollen,” he said. “The pain wasn’t that severe. I couldn’t kneel or put a lot of weight on it, but I decided to tough it out.”

That changed when an MRI confirmed a full ACL tear. His high school athletic trainer referred him to Joseph Gonzales, MD, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Manning Family Children’s.

A treatment approach built around the growing patient

Manning Family Children’s is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive pediatric orthopedic programs in Louisiana, and Dr. Gonzales and his team focus on caring for the developing patient: children, teens, and young adults who are still growing physically, mentally, and emotionally. Their approach recognizes that an injury at this age affects more than the knee; it can ripple into everyday life—school, sports, friendships, and self-confidence.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all protocol for young athletes,” Dr. Gonzales said. “We adapt every treatment and recovery plan to the patient’s age, maturity level, daily life, and long-term goals.”

This personalized approach made a strong impression on Tristen.

“Dr. Gonzales was very good about explaining things to me,” Tristen said. “He was down-to-earth and easy to talk to. We had two meetings before the surgery and three post-op check-ins.”

Tristen's mother, Shannon LeBeouf, said the family felt at ease with Dr. Gonzales right away. “He has a very calming spirit,” she said. “He made it clear that he was experienced and capable. On the day of the surgery, we were greeted early that morning, and everything went so smoothly. His calm demeanor helped us stay at ease.”

During surgery, Dr. Gonzales performed an ACL reconstruction. Because the ligament was nearly torn through, he used a portion of Tristen’s quadriceps tendon —a strip of muscle above the kneecap—to create a new ACL. Surgeons often use this method for young athletes because the new graft tends to be stronger than the original ligament.

Recovery, resilience, and a return to normal life

Tristen underwent surgery in June 2025 as a same-day outpatient procedure. The first day was the hardest, mostly because he had to learn to use crutches. By week two, he was getting around with crutches and an immobilizer. At his two-week check-up, the immobilizer came off — and just three days later, he was walking on his own.

“I could walk around with reasonable ease,” he said.

Physical therapy began two weeks after surgery. By the one-month mark, Tristen noticed big improvements in flexibility and strength.

“Movement became much easier,” he said. “I’m just so happy I was able to get back to being active so quickly. Dr. Gonzales is the reason I was able to return to my normal life.”

A family’s gratitude

Today, Tristen is back to routine college life. Between focusing on his studies, he still makes time to play volleyball and basketball and work out at the LSU Student Recreation Center. And, of course, he enjoys hanging out with friends.

His family continues to reflect on the care Tristen received throughout his injury and recovery, and the experience left them deeply appreciative of the team that supported him every step of the way.

“Everyone at Manning Family Children’s did their jobs so well,” Shannon said. “I was so impressed with how the whole team worked together so seamlessly. It truly felt like they cared about him as a person and not just another patient.”

From a painful moment on the mat to walking across LSU’s campus just months later, Tristen’s journey shows what’s possible when determination meets excellent care. Tristen's journey shows what's possible when determination meets excellent care. He graduated high school as valedictorian with a 4.6 GPA and more than 60 college credits, and he's carrying that same drive as he settles into life at LSU and pursues his goal of becoming a lawyer.

“It’s just about staying consistent,” Tristen said. “If you put in the effort, you’ll get where you want to be. The sooner you get into the things that make you comfortable, the sooner you can do the things that make you happy.”
 

Visit Manning Family Children’s website to learn more about the specialized pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine care available to young athletes across Louisiana.

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About Manning Family Children’s: Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.