Michigan high school football player speaks out after teammate fractures opponent's spine during game
Rhys Biske, 15, denounces the alleged act and says players and coaches have faced threats as schools and law enforcement respond
A Kalamazoo Central High School junior varsity football player is facing scrutiny after a Lakeshore High School player sustained a serious spinal injury during a Sept. 19 game, authorities said. Rhys Biske, 15, publicly denounced his Kalamazoo Central teammate’s conduct in a video posted on his mother’s TikTok, saying he would not defend the act and calling the move illegal and unacceptable. The incident occurred on a scoring play, according to witnesses and local coverage.
Video footage shows the Kalamazoo Central player tackling the smaller Lakeshore athlete, then leaping back onto him as he lay on the ground. The Lakeshore player, also 15, was carted off the field and rushed to the hospital, where doctors found two fractures in the spine. The case quickly drew attention online, with Biske’s public response and family posts as central elements of the unfolding narrative.
According to local outlets, the Lakeshore player will miss the rest of the season as doctors evaluate whether he can return to play. His mother, Courtney Mims, told WSBT that doctors are assessing the extent of his injuries and that the family is focused on his recovery. The Lakeshore family has declined to comment further while the medical review continues.
Biske said that the back-field incident occurred away from the main action and was not seen by most players, coaches, referees, or fans at the time of the play. He also said Kalamazoo Central staffers have received online threats and racially charged harassment in the wake of the incident. The Kalamazoo Township Police Department said it is investigating threats directed at the school and those involved.
Kalamazoo Central High School said it has taken strong and decisive action against the junior varsity players involved, but privacy laws prevent disclosure of specific accountability measures. The Michigan High School Athletic Association said it is taking the matter very seriously. Lakeshore Schools Superintendent Greg Eding wrote a letter to the community calling the Kalamazoo player’s actions totally unacceptable and stating that disciplinary consequences were applied in line with district policies. He apologized to Lakeshore families for the incident and its impact on the broader community, according to WWMT.
With authorities continuing to review the case, officials are weighing questions about safety protocols, player conduct, and the role of social media in amplifying harassment after on-field incidents. Both districts have said they will cooperate with investigations while supporting the injured student and his family as recovery decisions are made.
