Antioch's Athan Kaliakmanis cleared, but won't start Friday

Antioch held its breath last Friday night when late in its 10-7 loss to Lake Forest, junior quarterback and Minnesota commit Athan Kaliakmanis went down with a back injury and was stretchered off.

Its worst fears were thankfully unfounded, and Kaliakmanis was cleared to play Thursday after what was diagnosed as a stinger. Antioch head coach Brian Glashagel said it was a frightening situation for everyone involved.

“It was scary, it was scary for the parents, it [is] scary for anyone when a player doesn’t get up,” Glashagel said.

Kaliakmanis will dress for Friday's home game against Woodstock North after practicing on Thursday.

“He was at practice [Thursday], doing drills, running around, punting the ball for us,” Glashagel said. “Taking some snaps [Thursday].”

The Sequoits will remain cautious, starting senior quarterback Evan Day in Kaliakmanis’ stead. Kaliakmanis’ involvement Friday will be determined by how the game goes.

“For me to sit here and tell you he’s going to go in to play most of the game, or do that, I’d completely be guessing,” Glashagel said. “It’s kind of seeing how the game develops to be honest with you. That’s the plan going forward, that’s what I communicated to our quarterbacks, to our offense, to the rest of the team.”

Following the hit, Glashagel said Kaliakmanis actually wanted to try to stand up, but trainers kept on the ground.

“He actually wanted to get up, but he was complaining about his back,” Glashagel said. “If it was, you know, 1990, he’s probably walking off the field. In this day and age when you say back, neck or head, you’re going for a ride.”

The ride to the hospital was just the beginning of a night that Glashagel said lasted until 8 a.m. the next morning due to testing.

Glashagel made it clear that holding Kaliakmanis back from starting Friday is in his best interest as a high school athlete.

“If it was the NFL, he’s probably starting,” Glashagel said. “[But] he’s a high school kid, so we have to play it snap by snap [Friday] night.”