All student athletes will be screened

By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

Coaches of Marion’s student athletes hope they won’t need the results of a test they took Monday.

But if those athletes are injured, the baseline concussion screenings obtained Monday will give their doctors more insight into treatment.

All students who wish to participate in sports are being screened before they play, athletic director Jason Hett said.

Students were tested on reaction time, shape recall, and memory.

If athletes are injured or suspected of suffering a concussion, they will retake the test before they are allowed to play.

“Hopefully, we don’t ever need to use it, but if we do, it’s going to be a good tool,” Hett said Monday as he escorted a group of athletes to the lunch room at the high school for screening.

Members of Marion High School’s football team completed the test before heading out to the stadium for the team’s first practice of the season.

This first year, all students will be screened.

After that athletes will be retested every two years, district superintendent Aaron Homburg said.

“To me, it’s just a no-brainer. It’s a safety issue,” he said. “I think it’s good to do this not only for football but for all activities.”