KBTX - Friday Football - Headlines

Rudder H.S. Game Suspended After Player Collapses

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By: Clay Falls, John Gilbert , Sylvia Villarreal Email
Updated: Sat 6:41 PM, Sep 03, 2011

*6 P.M. Saturday Update*

A Rudder High School student is still recovering in the hospital after collapsing during Friday night's football game in Bryan.

Now his school and community are getting behind him to show support.

At last check David Wilganowski was listed in stable condition in Houston and that's better news than what we heard Friday night when he was listed in serious condition at St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan.

Wilganowski or "Wigs" as his friends call him underwent tests Saturday afternoon at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston to figure out why he collapsed Friday night during the 4th quarter of the game that suspended play for the rest of the night.

It was a frightening moment with also words of encouragement from the Rudder High School Community as stand out player David Wilganowski was carted out of St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan for a PHI Helicopter flight to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

During the 4th quarter of Friday night's game against Leander Rouse he collapsed on the field and had to under go CPR at Merrill Green Stadium.

"I couldn't see anything I was in the middle of the huddle there were people around him I didn't see anything," said Jared Cohan, a wide receiver and senior at Rudder.

Like many of Wilganowski's classmates Cohan stood on the sidelines of the hospital watching and praying that he'll be ok.

"He's always positive so that's a good thing to have on the team," said Cohan.

"All of a sudden Wigs goes down and you know we just kind of looked like what happened, nobody knew, nobody had any idea then we all the team just got together in a huddle and coach came over and talked to us and told us everything's going to be all right," said Dezmun Williams, a defensive tackle on the team.

Williams says there's still lots of confusion over what exactly happened under those Friday night lights.

"Keep wigs in your prayers and his family and we hope to have him back soon," he added.

A fundraiser is going on to help Wilganowski's family with expenses while they're in Houston.

One event happened Saturday afternoon at Harvey Mitchell Elementary School in Bryan.

Students and friends used Facebook starting Saturday morning to get the word out.

They're trying to raise as much as they can to help Wilganowski's parents with hotel expenses and food.

The students said they wanted to help out in their own way.

The school has set up an account as well to help Wilganowski's family.

You can donate at any Citi Bank.

It's unclear if the football game will be made up or if it will go down as a tie game.

*Previous Story*
The high school football game Friday night between Rudder High School and Leander Rouse was suspended in the 4th quarter after a Rudder player collapsed on the field at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan.

A team trainer performed CPR on senior defensive lineman David Wilganowski on the field before he was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

Sources say Wilganowski was responsive and sitting up and talking after arriving at St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan.

A spokesperson for the Bryan school district says Wilganowski is being flown to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for further care.

News 3 has also learned that family friends have established a fund at Citibank to help the Wilganowski's with expenses while they are in Houston.

News 3 extends our thoughts and prayers to the family of Wilganowski for his recovery.


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