Student-athletes, driven by passion and not much discipline, give their all to excelling in sports while balancing academic responsibilities, However, a tragic reality exists beneath the surface of their achievements: the horrible loss of young lives due to various causes related to their athletic pursuits.
In the troubling problem of athletes passing away at high schools, Westwood has managed to beat those odds with the help of their athletic trainers. At least seven student-athletes died in August.
The seven deceased include 13-year-old Cohen Craddock of West Virginia, 16-year-old Caden Tellier of Alabama, 15-year-old Jayvion Taylor of Virginia, 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins of Alabama, 15-year-old Robert James Gillon III of Florida, 16-year-old Leslie Noble of Maryland and 15-year-old Ovet Gomez-Regalado of Kansas.
A growing number of students tragically lost their lives during school sports, this pattern raises urgent questions about the safety protocols and why Westwood works so much, compelling a reevaluation of how these programs are managed and the measures in place to protect young athletes.
The numerous ways of passing can include (Heat stroke, Brain injury, and Coronary artery disease.) When speaking to Westwood’s Sports Med Teacher, Ms. Heather Johnson, she talks about injuries that occurred at Westwood, Of the 7 athletes that have passed, 2 were from Brain injuries, 3 were from the heat, 1 from chest pains and the other was just unknown, Westwood has had instances with all three of those situations, and took repercussions to fix it.
She palms her hands together, “We have had open fractures, regular fractures, and a lot of concussions, we have had a few heat illnesses but none that have gotten up to that heat stroke level.”
Mrs. Heather moves her hands while addressing Westwood’s approach concerning athletes’ heat,
“We change practices to adjust them to the weather. Sometimes we don’t start until 7:00 pm just to make sure it is cool enough for them to adjust [to the weather].”
Mrs. Johnson states, “Even if we think something isn’t right we go through with the protocol… When in doubt sit them out.”
The loss of student-athletes is a heart-wrenching truth of the vulnerabilities in sports. By taking proactive measures in screening and safety, we can prevent these tragedies and ensure that the pursuit of athletic excellence does not come at the cost of young lives. Through continued awareness and improvement, we can work towards a future where student-athletes thrive in both their sports and their health.
