LISLE, Ill. (WLS) -- A west suburban high school football player is fighting to recover from a very serious injury on the field.
The senior defensive back at Benet Academy in Lisle suffered a spinal fracture during a game on October 10.
His teammates carry on and practice for their next game.
"It's not easy, a best friend like that, to have such an injury, but to see the way he's responded and see the courage and strength that he's given our team to keep playing," said teammate Nicholas Pavlishin. "We play for (uniform number) 2-6 now, so it just gives us a lot of honor and strength to carry on."
They wear red ribbons and wrist bands in support of their injured teammate, 17-year-old Benet Academy senior Andrew Valadka, hospitalized and recuperating from a spinal fracture injury while paying Carmel Mundelein ten days ago in Lisle. The Wheaton resident was hurt while making a tackle, something he has done countless times.
Coach Pat New says the defensive back has no movement, but is slowly progressing and getting some feeling back. To date, he has undergone two surgical procedures. The coach and teammates have visited frequently at Northwestern Hospital.
The coach says Valadka's football career is over. However, he is a bright student with a brilliant future.