
Vandegrift Vipers senior wide receiver Paxton Segina (9) congratulates his teammates during the Class 5A, Division I regional semifinal playoff game at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Because of Vandegrift and Leander ISD concussion protocol, Segina was on the sidelines, unable to play at the game against East View, several games after he was airlifted from a home game where he encountered a concussion after a hit. “As a staff, we are so thrilled to see Paxton make a full recovery and further his football career at Stanford University,” said Drew Sanders, VHS athletic director and head football coach. Photo by Scott W. Coleman
Published May 4, 2016
By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News
Concussion management at Vandegrift has increased over the past several years, and it seems to be helping. Concussion numbers have gone up only slightly even though the VHS student population has increased, and concussions have gone down specifically in football, said Drew Sanders, VHS athletic director and head football coach.
During the last school year, 2014-15, the football team experienced three diagnosed concussions in practices, five in games and two that happened to players in their daily lives. There were twice as many concussions the previous year, Sanders said.
School-wide and in all sports during the same period, concussions at Vandegrift increased slightly, “the numbers rose barely but a reminder, school population did increase,” he said.
Even though all sports including soccer, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball have concussion risks, this report focuses on football.
“My job is to make this sport the safest I can possibly make it… I try to limit as much risk as I can. That’s my job,” said Sanders, who has been coaching for 20 years, the past eight at VHS.

“Football is safer than it’s ever been to play. When I played football, concussions weren’t even talked about,” said Drew Sanders, VHS athletic director and head football coach. He thinks the national conversation currently taking place around football and concussions is a good thing.
Photo by Scott W. Coleman
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