B-A trainer earns MVP honors from title game
Jesse Glass was charged with patching up Nathan Davis’ eye in the second half
Davis looks on while Glass prepares a patch for the senior guard’s eye.
March 2, 2016
As blood was pouring from above Nathan Davis’ left eye in the District 6 Class AA title game against West Branch Friday in Altoona, Bellwood-Antis fans were paying less attention to the game and more attention to athletic trainer Jesse Glass.
Davis, who is the team’s leading scorer, took an elbow to the eye just ten seconds into the second half and instantly started to bleed. By game rules Davis was required to leave the game for Glass to stop the bleeding.
“It was difficult to stop the bleeding because of the location of the cut,” said Glass. “The cut was almost an inch long and under his eyebrow so it was difficult to steri-strip it closed.”
Head Coach Brent Gerwert wanted to have Nathan out on the floor as much as possible, so when they had to pull Nathan, he called a timeout to give Glass more time to work on his eye.
“I just wanted to get back out on the court as quickly as possible,” said Nathan Davis. “I was kind of panicked, but looking back on it, Jesse was extremely fast.”
Glass was able to stop the bleeding for most of the third quarter, but with just over two minutes to go in the third Davis had to come back out of the game for Jesse to stop the blood once again, and Coach Gerwert called a second timeout for Glass to stop the bleeding for a second time.
“Nathan had to come out a second time because he was sweating so bad that it loosened the steri-strips. The second time I put tape adhesive around his entire eye and then taped gauze over the cut,” continued Jesse Glass.
Seen after a foul shot in the fourth quarter, Davis’s wound was held together nicely by the work of trainer Jesse Glass.
When Glass had stopped the bleeding, Davis was put back in the game with two minutes to go in the third. Davis was able to stay in for the remainder of the game and score 13 points in the fourth quarter alone to lead B-A to the District 6-AA championship thanks to Glass’ outstanding work.
“I don’t feel any pressure in those situations,” added Glass. “I block out everything around me just like a player shooting a foul shot. I was just focused on doing my job.”
Glass knew that Davis wanted to get back out on the court, but he still did the job right.
“Jesse’s the best trainer in the area, that’s for sure,” added Davis.
