Snohomish freshman paralyzed

By MARK HIGGINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Last Friday during a one-on-one drill at a Snohomish ninth-graders'practice, Christopher Ondras tumbled over a tackler and landed on his head, resulting in a fractured fifth vertebra and severely damaged spinal cord.

Physicians have told his parents that Ondras, 14, will not be able to walkagain. There is hope that he may regain movement in his arms.

Over the weekend, the coaching staff thought about calling off the freshmanseason but decided to continue after talking to Christopher's parents, Scottand Kathy Ondras, who wanted the team to keep playing.

"We are very saddened by this," said freshman coach Harry Cornwell, whoadded that practice this week has been subdued. "Lower key would be the wayto describe it. We're trying to give the kids a chance to sort through theirfeelings."

Jerry Simicich, the freshman campus principal, said Ondras, a 200-pound lineman, is "a nice kid who loves football. He's not one who by any stretchof the imagination would be considered fragile."

Yesterday in a game against Everett, Snohomish players wore a sticker ontheir helmets, "Chris No. 61," in tribute to Ondras.

The school has set up a Christopher Ondras Fund. Donations can be made atSeafirst bank branches.