Senior Night typically is an emotional night for athletes who often are playing in the final home game of their careers.
For 20 Columbus East senior football players, Friday night took on a little extra meaning. One of their former classmates and teammates was no longer with them.
The Olympians paid tribute to the late Abbott Garn at their 50-3 rout of Jeffersonville. Prior to the game, senior captains Jacob Bolte, Cody Horner, Nash Murphy and Jonah Wichman carried Garn’s No. 49 jersey to midfield for the captains meeting and coin toss.
Garn died as a result of injuries suffered in a Feb. 18, 2017, car accident. He was with his good friends, Wichman and Murphy, and the pair have honored his memory.
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Garn’s parents made clear from the beginning that they held no animosity toward Wichman and Murphy and have continued to support them and the team.
Wichman wore an arm sleeve with Garn’s initials and No. 49 during Friday’s game. Another senior, Degean Lambert has been in charge of ordering the arm sleeves for his senior project.
All the East players have worn Garn’s initials on helmet stickers the entire season. Friday night, Garn’s jersey hung on the bench on the Olympians’ sideline.
"Since it was senior night, that was pretty emotional for our players and for our whole team," East coach Bob Gaddis said. "We talked about it and really all week at practice. It’s just a way to pay a tribute. Our kids miss him."
