Ball State University Athletics
Trey Uetrecht to Serve as Honorary Captain at Saturday’s Spring Football Game
April 12, 2019 | Football
Uetrecht, a redshirt freshman from Oregonia, Ohio, suffered a serious single car accident on Feb. 10 while returning to Ball State after a weekend at home. He hit a patch of black ice and went off the left side of the road into a tree. Uetrecht had a tree limb pierce his skin and rib cage, causing major damage to his left shoulder and arm as well as broken ribs and fractured vertebrae.
He was confined to the ICU for 12 days and the hospital for 32 days overall. In that time, Uetrecht underwent 13 surgeries, including one where doctors had to move an artery from the inside part of his leg to his shoulder to save his left arm. Today, he is healing as best as possible while still visiting doctors to try to fix the nerve damage in his left arm, which currently has no function or movement. Uetrecht has to undergo more tests and will likely head to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in the next month in an attempt to reconnect the nerves in his arm.
Through it all, the football team has been trying its best to keep Uetrecht's spirits high. Players and coaches have consistently been calling, texting and going to social media to offer support. Uetrecht's jersey (No. 57) has been worn by a different player at every spring practice.
"Talk about a spirit lifter," Uetrecht said. "There's nothing more I wanted to hear than their support, and boy, did I hear from them."
Uetrecht finally made a return to campus on Tuesday and talked to the entire team before the players hit the field for practice. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. He will return to campus Saturday to join his teammates for the Spring Game.
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We Miss You, We Love You! Can't Wait For You To Be Back With Us! It Is A Blessing Everytime We Step Out On The Field And Can Take Part In The Greatest Game In The World! #57 #1AAT #TrueCardinal Phil 4:13 @TreyUetrecht #MoreThanAGame #Family pic.twitter.com/zHNAa9Mu5V
— Tyler Stockton (@Coach_TsTock) April 7, 2019
#NewProfilePic @TreyUetrecht We love you brotha #TreyStrong pic.twitter.com/aKk4EJQlBC
— Brandon Martin (@bmar_IX) March 19, 2019
?????? #TreyStrong https://t.co/PAOnYbnSLL
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) March 14, 2019
Proudly repped my brother ?@TreyUetrecht? jersey today in practice, miss you bro wish you was out here with us big dawg keep fighting my guy! ????????#Philippians4:13 #1AAT pic.twitter.com/nP55FPBobD
— Jaylin Thomas (@_jaylinthomas_) March 21, 2019
Wore the big 57 for our guy Trey! Keep fighting and we can't wait to see ya kid! #prayfortrey #Philippians413 @TreyUetrecht pic.twitter.com/vARB5QAIP9
— Jacob White (@cobwhite) March 16, 2019
A message to Trey Uetrecht from Tim Tebow. pic.twitter.com/0drwV3yweX
— CM Athletics (@CM_Athletics) February 22, 2019
