Tusky Valley football player suffers paralyzing injury
ZOARVILLE (WJER) (Aug. 24, 2025) – Family members say a Tusky Valley football player suffered a paralyzing spinal injury during the team’s first game of the season Friday night at Waynedale.
Mayson White was carted off the field following a collision in the second quarter of the game and taken to Akron Children’s Hospital.
Family members say he underwent surgery Saturday morning for a fractured C4 vertebrae.
Updates from the family online after the surgery say Mayson can shrug his shoulders and has some movement in his right arm, but not his legs.
Countless messages of support have since been shared across social media.
Tusky Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky posted the following on Facebook:
“Mayson is a strong young man, and we are rooting for him. The TV community is a special place, and his family, and our district, thank you for your ongoing support and care. We will continue to provide ongoing support to Mayson and his family in the days to come. Please stay tuned to the Athletic Boosters page for additional fundraisers and community support opportunities.”
The district also shared these links to support Mayson and his family: