Colorado Springs, CO -- Nick Welch, a center on the Air Force basketball team, underwent surgery to repair a damaged tendon in his left ankle Tuesday, just seven weeks after having a surgical procedure to mend a broken bone in his left foot.

Welch, a senior, is expected to be sidelined until mid to late December, but might not see game action until January. He originally anticipated to return from the broken bone by October 15, the first official practice day for the Falcons.

This is the fourth surgery in three years for Welch. He had surgery on his left knee in August of 2003 and missed the first game of the 2003-04 season while recovering. Welch then reinjured the knee the following August and had to undergo arthroscopic surgery.

"My heart goes out to Nick," said Air Force head coach Jeff Bzdelik. "He was looking forward to starting practice with us in October, but now our target for his return is the conference opener against BYU on January 5. He has had a rough road physically in his three years here, but if anyone is tough enough to come back from this kind of adversity, it's Nick Welch."

In 30 games last season, Welch was second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.0 points and 3.6 boards per game. Welch was rewarded with a second-team all-Mountain West Conference selection.