From Sidelines to Safe Return: Inside a High School Concussion Case

Concussions remain a common risk in tackle and contact sports, but advances in baseline testing technology are helping Athletic Trainers and healthcare providers identify injuries sooner and guide safer returns to play.

At Roncalli High School, freshman Brady Richardt competes year-round in football, basketball, and baseball.

“Here at Roncalli, I do football and basketball and then during the summer, I also play baseball,” Richardt said. “So I get to knock people on their butts basically.”

That physical style of play led to a scary moment during a routine football practice.

“It was hot out, a normal practice. I was on the scout team… and I just got knocked,” Richardt said.

When his helmet came off, Athletic Trainer Theresa Backous knew immediate action was needed.

“I saw his helmet come off and so that's always a concern,” Backous said.

After Richardt reported feeling “a little off,” Backous removed him from play right away.

“I could look in his eyes and see that something wasn’t right,” she said. “So I said let’s err on the side of caution, sat him on the sidelines, and called his parents.”

Before the season began, Richardt completed a baseline concussion assessment using Sway, a mobile concussion testing tool that provides objective balance and cognitive data. That baseline allowed Backous and the medical team at Avera Health to collaborate using shared information throughout his recovery.

“The biggest concerns are long-term complications, things like post-concussion syndrome and difficulty with cognition,” said Gabe Gehrke, a physician assistant with Avera Health. “These reports give us a measurement point so we can follow an athlete over time as they return to activity.”

Richardt progressed through a gradual, Athletic Trainer–guided return-to-play protocol before safely returning to sport. Now recovering, he hopes his experience encourages others to take concussions seriously.

“I hope they don’t cheat the system,” Richardt said. “Because it could come back to bite.”

For Backous, the message is clear.

“Concussions affect your whole entire life,” she said. “It’s really important they understand how serious this is to their health.”

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