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High school athlete concussions become serious
Reviewed by Jack Blesch on
November 9, 2017.

1 voteConcussions are a recurring injury in sports. People who play contact sports such as football have a greater chance of getting a concussion, yet all athletes can get a concussion. Sports that involve head to head contact normally have the most cases of concussions per season. Football is notorious for players receiving a concussion. […]

1 voteConcussions are a recurring injury in sports. People who play contact sports such as football have a greater chance of getting a concussion, yet all athletes can get a concussion. Sports that involve head to head contact normally have the most cases of concussions per season. Football is notorious for players receiving a concussion. […]

Concussions are a recurring injury in sports. People who play contact sports such as football have a greater chance of getting a concussion, yet all athletes can get a concussion.

Sports that involve head to head contact normally have the most cases of concussions per season. Football is notorious for players receiving a concussion.

According to The Mayo Clinic, a concussion is a brain injury caused by an extreme blow to the head causing serious shaking of the head and body. It is the most common type of brain wound and is often referred to as a mild traumatic head injury.

Also according to The Mayo Clinic, there are many symptoms of having a concussion. Some of the more common ones are: a headache, dizziness, seeing stars, nausea, and vomiting.

Some of the uncommon symptoms are blackouts, long-term memory loss, and severely slurred speech.

Number 16 Jacob Wiley returns a kickoff in a loss against Kalamazoo Central. Wide receiver Wiley suffered a head injury earlier in the season. Photo by Parker Feraco

This year’s Gull Lake JV Football team had some players who received a concussion during gameplay.

“When having a concussion it felt like I couldn’t do anything,” Wiley said. “My head hurt, and I got dizzy and lightheaded. It also hurt to look at lights.”

Wiley was a wide receiver and safety for the JV Devils during the season and had to sit out one game because of his concussion.

“The worst part about having a concussion is not being able to be out on the field with your team,” he said. “I wanted to play so badly, but I knew I couldn’t, and not being able to do anything to help your team extremely stinks.”

Defensive number 13 Pete Gaudard runs the ball against Kalamazoo Central and was a JV player who sustained a concussion. Photo by Parker Feraco

Sophomore Pete Gaudard also received a concussion during a game this past year.

“It really stinks not being able to play. I couldn’t remember things at first like defensive assignments,” Gaudard said.

Gaudard was a middle linebacker, running back, and wide receiver for the JV Devils this past year. He missed two games with his concussion.

“Pulling myself out of the game was one of the toughest things I had to do. I didn’t want to do it, but it was the right thing to do,” he said.

Players from non-contact sports also receive concussions from participating in their sports.

Alyssa Mckee competed in Competitive Cheer and Sideline cheer for the Devils.

Alyssa Mckee performs a cheer during the Devil’s homecoming win against Battle Creek Central. She’s also one of the athletes who sustained a concussion this year. Photo by Anai Larez

“Having a concussion sucks. It feels like you’re dizzy all day and can’t remember things,” she said.

She took a fall doing a stunt and received a concussion when she hit the ground.

Multiple concussions also can cause a permanent brain disease known as CTE. CTE, also known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is caused by repeated trauma to the head. Once you get CTE there is no getting rid of it.

Sports are now starting to acknowledge the dangers of concussions by enforcing rules tougher. Referee’s in football are being more cautious of the rule of “Targeting.” Targeting is when a defensive player hits an offensive player, who is defenseless and hits him helmet to helmet. Football has changed the rule to, a targeting penalty is an automatic ejection from the game.

Athlete’s themselves are now starting to crack down on concussions and try to make themselves safer from the serious life-changing injuries like CTE.

This is my first year on the newspaper staff. I am a sophomore at Gull Lake I play football and baseball and love to have fun. I love sports and love to write about them. I look forward to a fun year of writing.

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