Wisconsin High School Football Player Passes Away After Injury During Season Opener

Alma Center Lincoln senior Adam Massman received emergency medical care after being injured during Thursday night's game against Turtle Lake; his school district announced his passing Saturday.

Upon learning of his death, Adam Massman's Alman Center Lincoln High teammates honored him by painting his spot on the school's parking lot. The tribute included the letters LLA, for Long Live Adam, and the quarterback's No. 4. | WEAU 13 News

A Wisconsin high school football community is mourning the loss of a senior who passed away after being injured during his team's season-opening game.

Adam Massman, who was entering his senior year at Alma Center Lincoln High School, was injured during the Hornets' game against Turtle Lake on Thursday night, according to a report from WKOW ABC 27. He was the team's starting quarterback.

Massman received medical attention from EMTs who were at the game before being transported to a hospital, Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District Superintendent Drew Semingson said in a message to district staff and families.

The district learned Saturday afternoon that Massman had passed away.

"Adam was active in our Lincoln community, participating in multiple sports, clubs, and activities making friends everywhere he went," Semingson said, according to WKOW.

The report did not provide details about how Massman was injured or a cause of death.

Alma Center Lincoln Community Mourns Loss

Massman's ties to the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District extended well beyond his own time as a student.

According to WKOW, Massman's mother is an elementary school counselor, a sibling is a student in the district, an aunt and uncle are elementary school teachers, and another uncle serves on the school board.

The high school was opened Saturday to provide students and families a place to gather, with counselors available for those needing support.

Additional counseling services are scheduled to be available beginning Monday at noon and throughout Tuesday. The district has student "jump start" days scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday before the first day of school on Sept. 1.

Hornets' Next Game Uncertain

Thursday's game was the first of the 2026 season for Alma Center Lincoln. The Hornets defeated Turtle Lake, 42-18.

Alma Center Lincoln is scheduled to play Cornell on Friday, Aug. 28, but as of WKOW's latest report, neither the school nor the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association had announced whether the game would be played as scheduled.

The loss comes just days before Massman and his classmates were preparing to begin a new school year.

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