According to CNS News, around 1,000,000 high school students decide to play football annually in the United States. Along with that outrageous statistic, comes a partnering number of injuries. Some more severe than others, sports injuries in high school athletes is a serious issue.
Will Ostera, a junior on the JV football team, sustained a serious and truly saddening injury in the team’s game against Foster High School on Sept. 8.
“I don’t exactly remember the hit, but I’ve seen a video of it,” Ostera said. “The ball was snapped, and I was dropping back into coverage, and the quarterback passed the ball to a crossing receiver in my zone, and then I sprinted in and tackled him.”
What appeared to be just a good play on the ball by Ostera, was soon exposed to be a serious injury in response to the hit.
“I lowered my head too much [when I made the hit]” Ostera said. “I could have either hit his legs, or lifted my head up instead.”
After the play was over, and the other team members began to stand themselves upright in preparation for the next play, Ostera hopped off the ground and ripped off his helmet, and then quickly sat back down. The trainers and coaches rushed over to him, and assisted him in his time of need.
“I broke my C6 and C7 vertebrae, and tore all but one of my neck ligaments,” Ostera said. “I would assume [neck injuries] are common, just due to the lowering of helmets and what not.”
Although he was completely unaware at the time of his injury, he was up and ready to re-enter the game, as he was still running off of the adrenaline that remained with him. However, the trainers would not allow him to go back in to continue playing. After he arrived at the hospital, the doctor gave him the news that he will never forget.
“I’m not allowed to play ever again,” Ostera said. “I’ll miss my teammates most of all. The support that they gave me was huge. Before the Alief Taylor game, they all wrapped their wrists and put my name on it. That touched me.”
His teammates are a family that he will never not be a part of, and he takes every opportunity he has to let them know how much they mean to him.
“Stay safe, and keep grinding,” Ostera said.
Ostera regrets the hitting technique that he used in the play, but his situation may help others prevent serious neck injuries, like ones of this severity.
“Be sure that you know how to hit correctly, because this is life changing,” Ostera said.
All it takes in one mistake to alter a person’s quality of life forever. But dwelling over irreversible errors does no justice. Football is all about overcoming adversity, and it is something that will stick with a player forever. Ostera will never forget his football career, and the way that he has impacted his teammates, is an influence that they will never be able to let go.