A 17-year-old Wisconsin high school football player died Saturday from injuries he suffered during a game last Thursday, according to the school district.
Adam Massman, a senior quarterback at Lincoln Junior/Senior High School in Alma Center, Wis., reportedly sustained the injuries during a game against Turtle Lake.
Specific details on the injury he suffered have not been release, but his mother, Brianne, said he suffered a helmet-to-helmet blow during the game.
On-site EMTs attended to Massman before being transported to the hospital, and he died two days later, according to a message sent by school district superintendent Drew Semingson.
“I mean, no one would ever think something that severe would really happen,” she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We’re just completely devastated.”
Massman’s obituary describes him as “strong and spirited, yet quiet by nature” who could take the most mundane of moments and fill them with laughter.
His family said he enjoyed working with animals, “going shining with the boys,” attending cattle shows, participating in sports and playing around with his brother Brett.
He won the Bred and Owned (homegrown) Beef Steer at the Wisconsin State Fair in 2025, per the obituary.
“He worked hard at sports. He worked hard at school, he worked hard at cattle, he worked hard at so many things,” Brianne told the outlet.
“And in his 17 years, it’s amazing all of the things that he’s able to accomplish.”
Massman played for the Linconln football, basketball, baseball and golf teams, per MaxPreps.
He’s credited with 1,138 total yards last season while serving as the team’s quarterback, throwing for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 280 and adding three scores.
Massman also added one interception and 12 total tackles.
His football teammates honored him by painting his parking spot, adding the inscription “LLA,” for “Long Live Adam,” plus images of his family’s cattle operation and tire tracks from his vehicle, per weau.com.
On the diamond, he batted .268 across 13 games last year.
MaxPreps lists Massman as appearing in just two basketball games last year, and he earned 2025 WBCA Boys Basketball Academic All-State honors in 2025.
“Our home will never be the same,” the obituary states. “Our hearts are here but they are broken. We’ll remember Adam and love him, but our hearts will ache because he’s not here. And yet, somehow, our hearts will also remain full because we did have him for 17 wonderful and perfect years.”
A funeral service will happen Saturday at the high school, and the family has been touched by the support they’ve received.
“We don’t have to just come together when there’s a tragedy,” Brianne told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Let’s keep it going … that’s the best thing that people can do to honor Adam.”
