Two football players recover from homecoming game injuries

Junior tight-end Lio Medal and Senior running back and corner back Jonathan Aiken were injured severely and sent to the hospital during Blair's homecoming football game on Oct. 22.

Medal suffered a broken ankle after two Walter Johnson players fell on top of him while he was blocking in the fourth quarter. Aiken suffered a torn intestine and cut bladder after he was struck in the stomach by the helmet of a Walter Johnson running back during the second play of the game. Both are unable to complete the season.

Medal was immediately carried off the field on a stretcher and brought to the Holy Cross Hospital. "You could tell it was broken," said football co-captain senior Caleb Furlow of the sight of Medal's injury on the field. Medal was also aware of the severity of his injury. "It felt like the bones curved in," he said.

At the hospital, Medal received X-ray scans and found out about his broken ankle.

After his collision, Aiken vomited on the sidelines and he then returned to the game. However, during halftime he became sick again and his coach, Coach Kurt Gilbert, took him home. Aiken's parents rushed him to the Washington Adventist Hospital where he was transferred to Washington Hospital.

Aiken underwent surgery to treat his injuries. He stayed in the hospital until Oct. 28 and then went home on bed rest. He is now at home with no pain; he stated that he could have come back to school last week but his parents would rather he have stayed home.

Aiken returned to school on Monday Nov. 8.

Aiken and Medal's injuries have affected the team like many injuries have in past seasons according to varsity football coach Jeffery Seals. Two back-ups are replacing Medal and Aiken. "Of course we are less confident because of that," said junior linebacker David Chow of the teams loss, "But I think we are doing fine."

Chow also said that the injuries inspired the tam to play even better. "After [the injury] the team was like 'Lets do it for Lio,' and then we got three sacks in a row," he said.

Blair went on to win the game 21-14. Furlow said it also brought the team closer together after the injuries. "We are a stronger group," said Furlow. "It made us notice how valuable each player is."