A Wisconsin high school football player died over the weekend from injuries he sustained during his team's season-opening game, according to a statement from his school district.
Adam Massman, 17, a senior quarterback at Alma Center Lincoln High School, was hurt during a Thursday, Aug. 20 road game against Turtle Lake High School, according to School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan superintendent Drew Semingson. Emergency medical technicians stationed at the game treated Massman on the field before he was taken to a hospital, according to Semingson's statement, which was obtained by NTD News. Semingson told families in an Aug. 22 statement that Massman had died from the injury.
"Adam was injured during Thursday night's football game. He received medical support from EMT who were onsite at the game, before being transported to the hospital. We received news this afternoon that Adam passed away from the injury," Semingson said. He added that Massman "was active in our Lincoln community, participating in multiple sports, clubs, and activities making friends everywhere he went.”
Massman's mother, Brianne Massman,
wrote Monday on Facebook that she struggled to balance grief with gratitude for her son's life, saying, "These words were so incredibly hard to write as I sobbed between memories, reflected on our years together, and grieved every moment we will never have," she said in a post which included a link to her son’s official obituary.
She also wrote, "Adam, my heart continues to break at your loss, then slightly heals at your memory. Man. I love being your mom."His mother invited friends and community members to share stories and photos of Adam through a Google form or email for use during his visitation and service.
According to Massman's
obituary, he was born June 17, 2009, and was known for his quiet, spirited personality, his love of storytelling, and his close bond with his younger brother, Brett. The obituary states Massman graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College during his junior year through a program offered at Lincoln High School, and that he was deeply involved in raising and showing cattle, winning the Bred and Owned Beef Steer competition at the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair. He is survived by his parents, Brian and Brianne, his brother, Brett, and extended family.
A friend, Liam Musser,
wrote on Facebook that Massman was "the most funny, kindest, hardworking and awesome kid ever.”
The Central Wisconsin Officials Association said in their own Facebook
post Monday that officials "may only know these young men for a few hours on a Friday night," but see "their passion, their competitiveness, their friendships, their smiles.” The group added, "Rest in peace, young man. You will be missed.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.)
said his prayers were with the Massman family, teammates, coaches and the Alma Center community, calling the death "heartbreaking beyond words" for anyone who has played or loved high school football.
The Independence School District and the Sparta Area School District also offered condolences on Facebook, with
Independence writing that the districts "may wear different colors and stand on opposite sidelines" but "are part of the same family.” Sparta's district
said its "hearts go out to the Alma Center community and to the family and loved ones of Adam Massman.”
According to Massman's obituary, visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m., both at Lincoln High School, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. and burial at East Lawn Cemetery in Alma Center. The family has asked attendees to wear school colors or livestock show clothing, and a potluck meal will follow at the school. A Give InKind
fundraiser has also been organized to provide meals for the family.
