High school track coach left in intensive care after getting struck in the head by a shot put

A high school track and field coach in Texas is in the intensive care unit after being hit in the head with a shot put ball in a state competition over the weekend.

Blake Crutsinger, an assistant coach with the Ponder Independent School District (ISD), was in Tyler, Texas during a Region II-3A state University Interscholastic League competition.

In what’s being described as a ‘freak accident,’ Crutsinger was struck in the head with the shot put ball – a heavy metal object that can weigh up to 16 pounds for men’s competition.

Crutsinger’s wife, Leslie, shared a post to Facebook revealing that her husband suffered a skull fracture and swelling in his brain.

‘Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Blake and sending messages today,’ Leslie wrote in her post.

‘Also please pray for the young man from the other school who is taking this accident very hard!’ she added.

His wife, Leslie, says Blake underwent a procedure to alleviate swelling in his brain

She also thanked the onsite medical team for their quick response after the disturbing incident. 

‘The term “coaching family” is a real thing!’ she posted. ‘The quick actions of the coaches, trainers, and any medical staff that helped at the school and the quick response of the ambulance was a game changer in Blake’s prognosis. 

‘The adults and athletes who were there and witnessed what happened were shook to say the least.’

Crutsinger, who also works as a football coach at Ponder High School, underwent a surgical procedure on May 4 to reduce the swelling in his brain, according to his wife.

She joked that she expects her husband to wear ‘even more ball caps in the future’ due to the size of her scar. 

‘For the long term plan,’ she writes, ‘He will be in ICU until he can have the flap put back on. This will be a minimum of 2-4 weeks but could be easily be longer. He will then be transferred to inpatient rehab most likely at Baylor in Dallas.’ 

Crutsinger has received an outpouring of support from the Ponder community: ‘Our hearts and thoughts are with Coach Crutsinger and his family during this time,’ Ponder ISD superintendent Dr. James Hill said in a statement. 

‘We are in constant prayer for them and ask that you join us in praying for complete healing and a full recovery.’