- September 25, 2024
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It was a hot and humid morning on the Flagler Palm Coast practice field. But not hot enough for the wet bulb globe thermometer to cancel the football team’s conditioning session.
Defensive end Stacy Mitchell was not feeling well that day during the summer. He hadn’t eaten much or drank much fluids. It was a potential recipe for a bad outcome, athletic trainer Ron Steinwehr said.
After the outdoor conditioning, coach Daniel Fish directed the players back to the locker room to cool off and drink water before going to the weight room to complete the morning workout.
Steinwehr went back to his office.
“All of a sudden,” he said, “two coaches ran to me, ‘Mr. Ron, Stacy’s down. He needs your help.”
Steinwehr found Mitchell slumped over, not responsive and sweating profusely.
“It was a case of exertional heat stroke,” Steinwehr said.
Steinwehr and the coaches took Mitchell over to the cold-water immersion tub in the athletic training room.
The tub is next to the ice machine. They added four gallons of ice to the water and wrapped cold towels around Mitchell’s neck and face.
“We monitored his vitals, then called 911 and contacted his dad. In less than 10 minutes, EMS arrived,” Steinwehr said.
They stabilized him and when Mitchell’s father arrived they felt comfortable enough to let him drive Stacy home.
“Exertional heat stroke is 100% treatable if you have the right equipment,” Steinwehr said.
Steinwehr and Matanzas athletic trainer Michael Doersch are employed by AdventHealth as part of the health care organization’s formal partnership with Flagler Schools representing a $750,000 commitment to bolster student mental health, provide care for student athletes and establish more career pathways for graduates, according to an AdventHealth press release.
In an AdventHealth video interview, Mitchell said normally if he’s not feeling well he stays home, but on that day he pushed himself.
“Little did I know we were going to run a whole bunch,” he said. “After we got done running, we walked back. I sat there in my locker for five to 10 minutes. I couldn’t move.”
In the immersion bath, he said his feet were freezing cold.
“I always appreciate my coaches and my athletic trainer, Mr. Ron,” he said. “I feel like they’re so caring, great people who want the best for everybody. As long as you’re here, you’re family.”
Mitchell said he learned his lesson the hard way.
“We educate them about heat-related illnesses and remind them constantly to hydrate, eat properly and listen to their bodies,” Steinwehr said.
Mainland High School junior Lawton Levoy is one of 16 students in the state who have been selected to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
According to the FHSAA’s website, the committee serves as a critical link in identifying topics, issues and concerns that face student athletes of the state of Florida.
This year, the FHSAA received over 60 applications from students across Florida. The 16 selected to the committee were chosen based on their sports participation, extracurricular activities, an essay and their leadership skills.
Levoy is a flag football player, an athletic training aide and a manager for the Buccaneers’ football and basketball teams.
She volunteers with Oceans Luxury Realty community movie nights. During her time on the advisory committee, she said she wants to be a voice for female athletic programs.
Before the season, Mainland’s first-year football coach Jerrime Bell said the first half of the Bucs’ schedule would be killer. He wasn’t kidding.
Mainland traveled to Coffee High School in Douglas, Georgia, on Sept. 20 to take on the Trojans in a battle of defending state champs. Coffee held off the Bucs 10-7 to improve to 5-0 while dropping Mainland to 0-5 for the first time in 31 years.
Edward Williams scored the Bucs’ touchdown on a 15-yard run to complete a 72-yard drive in the fourth quarter.
Mainland plays perhaps its most important game of the season on Friday, Sept. 27, weather permitting, in a district contest at Matanzas. The winner will be in the driver’s seat for the championship of the three-team district and an automatic berth to the playoffs. The Bucs have not missed the playoffs since 1993.
PGA Tour pro Matt Kuchar visited Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa on Sept. 17 for an engaging meet-and-greet, a live golf demonstration, and a Q&A session with members and guests.
The Matanzas boys golf team beat Pedro Menendez for the second time this seaso on Sept. 24, 180-192, at Palm Harbor Golf Club. Trevor Challice led the Pirates with a 41.
The Pirates shot 172 in losses to Father Lopez (161) and Tocoi Creek (154) last week. Jack Rosseheim shot a 34 to lead Lopez. Challice shot 37 in both matches. The Pirates’ Jacob Roster shot 40 against the Green Wave and 43 against Tocoi Creek. Brady Peck shot 44 for Matanzas in the Lopez match.
Email: Brent Woronoff at [email protected]
