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Celina High School senior Parker Wynk fires a pass early in Friday night's game against St. Henry. Wynk suffered a spinal cord injury in a scramble for a loose ball during the second quarter of the game.
CELINA- Residents of the Grand Lake region rallied around Celina over the weekend after Celina senior Parker Wynk sustained a serious spinal injury Friday night in the second quarter of the Bulldogs game against St. Henry.
While attempting to recover a fumble just before halftime, the Celina quarterback collided with another player, causing his neck to snap backward.
"He was lying on the ground. He obviously just wasn't moving, so it didn't take too long to realize that there was something seriously wrong," Celina coach Brennen Bader told The Daily Standard. "Our players that were out on the field with him, handled it really well. They saw that he wasn't moving. They didn't touch him. They handled the situation really well. They got help, they got the trainers there and the medical staff. Then obviously he was taken by ambulance a little bit later. Parker's one to usually pop right back up and when somebody's not moving and they're faced down on the grass, that it is pretty serious."
Immediately upon the collision, Wynk could not move or feel touch on his body, his mother Sierra Wynk wrote in a Facebook post Saturday.
The community is rallying behind Celina High School senior Parker Wynk, who injured his neck during a play in Friday's football game.
"He could not move on the field, on the way to the hospital, or for some time after we arrived at Coldwater. And we were all praying. Our family was praying. Our friends were praying. Our entire community was praying. And then, little by little, things began to happen," she wrote. "Parker started feeling tingling and burning in his arms and hands. He began moving his arms a little. Then he moved a toe. He began feeling tingling and burning in his feet. He was able to feel a pinprick over most of his body, although he still cannot feel much normal touch or move his legs or hands really. Just his arms right now. His reflex testing went fairly well, too."
She continued in the post that they'd since learned Wynk was born with a congenitally narrow spinal canal, meaning there simply isn't much extra space or cushion around his spinal cord.
"When he collided with the other player and his neck was forced backward, his spinal cord was injured. We are incredibly thankful that there are no broken bones or vertebrae and Parker's brain is 100% okay," the post states. "But his spinal cord has been injured, and right now we simply do not know what that will mean for his future."
In an update posted to the Bulldogs Friday Night Lights Facebook group on Sunday, the family reported that Wynk has been able to move his legs, and has regained feeling "in many parts of his body."
"At this point, it's still a tingling feeling when touched as opposed to the typical feeling but he is improving all the time," the post states. No further updates on Wynk's condition were available by press time.
Senior Ruby Schleucher paints "Pray for Parker" on a car window at the corner of Main and Warren Street in Celina. The football field wasn't the only place the community showed its support for Celina High School senior quarterback Parker Wynk, who suffered a spinal cord injury during Friday night's football game against St. Henry. Friends and supporters took to the streets for "Paint the Town Green for Parker," handing out streamers, painting car windows, decorating street lamps and collecting donations Sunday afternoon.
Wynk's coaches, teammates and neighbors came together Saturday night for a prayer service at Celina First Church of God.
"There was hundreds of people, I think over 300 people or more were there, it was packed. It was really neat to see players, family members, the church members and just people from the school and just the community in general were all there in support," Bader said. "It was really neat to see the words of support on social media, but to actually see people going there physically to support him and pray for him was a really cool thing."
In addition, a GoFundMe campaign was created Sunday with a fundraising goal of $25,000 to help support the Wynk family. As of press time, the campaign had raised $24,299.
Senior Campbelle Gass ties a green streamer to a street lamp. The football field wasn't the only place the community showed its support for Celina High School senior quarterback Parker Wynk, who suffered a spinal cord injury during Friday night's football game against St. Henry. Friends and supporters took to the streets for "Paint the Town Green for Parker," handing out streamers, painting car windows, decorating street lamps and collecting donations Sunday afternoon.
Layla Hill and Evalynn Luth hold a "Paint the Town Green for Parker" sign. The football field wasn't the only place the community showed its support for Celina High School senior quarterback Parker Wynk, who suffered a spinal cord injury during Friday night's football game against St. Henry. Friends and supporters took to the streets for "Paint the Town Green for Parker," handing out streamers, painting car windows, decorating street lamps and collecting donations Sunday afternoon.
A Paint the Town Green event was also held from 4-6 p.m. Sunday on the corner of Main and Warren streets in Celina. Attendees painted their car windows with #8, Wynk's number, and handed out green streamers to decorate light poles and mailboxes as a show of support.
Area businesses have also chipped in with support.
After receiving a number of requests, Celina's MADE Apparel created two T-shirt designs centered around Wynk and the Celina Bulldogs, which are available to order through Sunday, a Facebook post states. Proceeds from this collection are set to go directly to the Wynk family to help with travel, meals, or anything else needed.
In addition, all high school football players will receive a T-shirt, donated by MADE Apparel. Order forms are available on the MADE Apparel Facebook page.
After losing Wynk to the injury Friday night, his teammates came together to defeat last year's Division VII champions, St. Henry 38-35 to start the year 1-0.
"I've been a coach for 18 years, a head coach now, for, I think my 10th year. And I've never seen anything a game so inspiring. It was almost like surreal to be a part of it and as it unfolded right in front of our eyes," Bader said. "Everybody was so sad and worried and concerned. It was a really cool thing to see a team galvanized and playing for a teammate, for a brother. That was really awesome. Probably the coolest experience I've ever had coaching. No doubt about it."
Interested parties can check for updates on Wynk's condition from his family and ways to support on the Bulldogs Friday Night Lights Facebook group.
Seniors Lilly Shreffler, Brinley Korte, Ruby Schleucher and Alaina Vehorn paint "HOPE" on the back windshield of car. The football field wasn't the only place the community showed its support for Celina High School senior quarterback Parker Wynk, who suffered a spinal cord injury during Friday night's football game against St. Henry. Friends and supporters took to the streets for "Paint the Town Green for Parker," handing out streamers, painting car windows, decorating street lamps and collecting donations Sunday afternoon.
