ManitobaA Winnipeg high school football coach says the team and the school are still in a state of shock but are rallying behind one of their players, after he suffered an injury during a game last week that some say could be life-altering. Sean Esselmont describes play that led to Darius Hartshorne’s injury as a ‘freak anomaly’Dave Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Oct 22, 2025 12:11 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoGrade 12 student Darius Hartshorne, a lineman for the Sisler Spartans, suffered a serious neck injury during the opening kickoff of an Oct. 17 game against the Tec Voc Hornets. (Submitted/DGN Photos)A Winnipeg high school football coach says the team and the school are still in a state of shock but are rallying behind one of their players, after he suffered an injury during a game last week that some say could be life-altering. “With something like that, you’re going to be shaken,” Sisler Spartans head coach Sean Esselmont said. “I myself was very much involved as the injury happened, and calling the ambulance and things of that nature, so it’s pretty raw in that regard, certainly for the team as well.”Grade 12 student Darius Hartshorne, who plays on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Sisler Spartans, suffered a serious neck injury on the first play of an Oct. 17 game against the Tec Voc Hornets, when he was tackled while returning the game’s opening kickoff. Jeffrey Bannon, the commissioner of the Winnipeg High School Football League, described the injury as “life-changing” for the Sisler High School student, who underwent surgery before being moved to intensive care.Sisler Spartans head coach Sean Esselmont says the team and the school are still in a state of shock but are rallying behind one of their players, after he suffered an injury during a game last week that some say could be life-altering. (Travis Golby/CBC)“It was a very shocking thing to occur on the first play of the game,” Esselmont said. “I have been coaching football since 2011. I’ve been playing football for much longer than that, and never in my almost three decades involved in the sport has something like this ever happened.“This is one of those things where I think it’s an absolute freak anomaly.”He said Hartshorne was a well-liked and valued member of the team. “He is probably one of the most genuine and wonderful young men I’ve had the pleasure of coaching in all of my time here,” Esselmont said. “He has just such a big personality, he is everyone’s best friend on the team, everyone’s brother, and he has just been wonderful, and a joy to coach for these past four years.”Esselmont also praised Hartshorne’s athleticism, along with his work ethic and love of the game.“He is a tremendous athlete,” he said. “He’s someone that has been working out hard all off-season, coming to our summer workouts, all that sort of stuff. He’s exactly the kind of kid that you want to be part of your program, so we’ve been very blessed to have him.Grade 12 student Darius Hartshorne, a lineman for the Sisler Spartans, suffered a serious neck injury during the opening kickoff of an Oct. 17 game against the Tec Voc Hornets. (CBC)“He’s the kid who came to us in Grade 9, and has lived and breathed football for these past four years.”And while he deals with the shock himself, Esselmont said he has been focused on supporting Hartshorne’s teammates, as their football season continues, while they also look to rally behind their injured teammate. The team plans to wear a decal on their helmets for the rest of the season with the number 57 on it in honour of Hartshorne. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Hartshorne’s family, who officials say may need to renovate their home following the injury, and Esselmont said community members have been reaching out asking if they can donate directly to the family. According to Esselmont, words of support have been pouring in from all corners of the football community since the injury, including from rival football teams, and from Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller. “Football is a big family thing, and when something like this happens, we rally together as a larger family on a national level,” he said. “We are rallying together.”ABOUT THE AUTHORDave Baxter is an award-winning reporter and editor currently working for CBC Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, he has also previously reported for the Winnipeg Sun and the Winnipeg Free Press, as well as several rural Manitoba publications.With files from Bartley Kives
Coach says player badly hurt in Winnipeg high school football game is ‘everyone’s best friend’
