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Omaha high school football player dies after collapsing at practice

Teddy Rydquist

By Teddy Rydquist

Published:

In a story first reported by NBC-affiliated WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska, 16-year-old Drake Geiger, who was set to begin his junior year at Omaha South High School, passed Tuesday after suffering a heatstroke and collapsing during football practice.

In accordance with Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) guidelines, the school had begun practice on Monday and Tuesday was the first session for Geiger.

According to WOWT, the Omaha area had been in a heat advisory Tuesday afternoon, with the heat index reaching approximately 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

Geiger’s father, Scott Hoffman, spoke with WOWT.

“The coach called me, said they did their first 10-minute drill, and he went up got a drink, came back, sat down, and fell over,” he shared.

“Said he had only been at practice 10 minutes…Said the EMTs were there taking him up to UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center).

“We got up there, doctor came and told us he was extremely overheated, and he was very, very sick.”

Jodi Pesek, Omaha South High School’s Principal, sent a letter to fellow students and families on Wednesday.

“Dear South High Community,

“We are deeply saddened to share that 11th-grade student Drake Geiger died unexpectedly last evening. We have been in contact with Drake’s family and conveyed our heartfelt sympathy and support.

“Many in our community will be affected by this news. South High is a tight-knit community, and we are here for one another. Students may want to talk with you about their feelings. You may see behavior changes in students: loss of concentration, physical complaints, or regression. These are common reactions associated with the grieving process. Talking about those feelings and listening attentively will help students and staff cope with such a tragic event. We have attached an additional resource to help.

“We will have counselors available at South High from 1-to-4 p.m. to talk with students who need to. If you have any concerns about your student’s reaction to this loss, please contact school counselors or our administrative staff.

“Please keep the family in your thoughts during this difficult time.”

With high school football camps underway across America, medical expects urge student-athletes to ensure they are consuming enough water daily. Adequate hydration is the best way to prevent any heat-related health scares.

Teddy Rydquist

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.