Eau Claire Memorial football players paid tribute to Adam Massman on Thursday night by wearing helmets marked with his number 4 and observing a moment of silence before their game against Chippewa Falls.
The gesture came after the 17-year-old quarterback and defensive back for Lincoln Junior-Senior High School died last weekend, days after being injured during a football game. It was a reminder that, even in a sport built on competition, the response to loss can be bigger than the result on the field.
Football communities stand together
Memorial players said the loss weighed on both sides of the game, touching their own team and fans as well as the Hornets. Chase Schultz said football is about more than one team, calling it a family and a strong community where people pick each other up.
“Showing out, even if it’s not for your team, I believe that that’s the right thing to do,” Schultz said. “And that showing love for one another means a lot for their family.”
That point was echoed by Jack Modl, who described high school football as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and said it was tragic to see the loss felt by both the family and the team. “We care about each other so deeply,” Modl said. “Football... you know, it’s greater than just a sport.”
A wider tribute across Wisconsin
The tribute did not stop in Eau Claire. During Thursday night’s game, the Old Abe Football Club collected donations for the Massman family, adding a practical show of support to the symbolic gestures before kickoff.
And the response stretched across the state. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association asked for a moment of silence before every high school football game played in Wisconsin that weekend to honor Massman’s memory.
Robin Schultz said the aim was simple: to recognize the impact Adam Massman had made and not let that memory fade. “Whatever we can do to recognize that this player made an impact in his community and to not forget Adam and his family,” she said.
For Memorial, for Lincoln Junior-Senior High School, and for every team asked to pause that weekend, the message was the same. This was not just about a game in Wisconsin. It was about showing respect, sharing grief and standing with a family at a difficult time.
