Texas High School Football Player Dies after collapsing on field | School cancels their home opener

The Lake Travis High School football season will begin without a game as the program takes time to grieve the heartbreaking loss of 17-year-old offensive lineman Odin Hensley.

Lake Travis head coach Carter announced that the team has canceled its scheduled season-opening game against Dripping Springs as players, coaches and the entire Lake Travis community continue to mourn Hensley’s death.

The decision comes after Hensley suffered a serious medical emergency during football practice on Monday, August 10.

According to a report, the student-athlete experienced a “serious health emergency” at approximately 8 a.m. that morning. Travis County STAR Flight was called to assist, and Hensley was transported for medical treatment.

The remainder of football activities that day was canceled as the program focused on the health and well-being of the student-athlete and those around him.

Hensley was later hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center.

Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Hensley ultimately died, leaving his family, teammates, coaches, classmates and community facing an unimaginable loss.

Hensley was entering his senior year and was part of the Lake Travis football program as an offensive lineman. For his teammates, the loss is particularly difficult as they prepare for a season that was supposed to represent the beginning of their final high school football journey together.

Instead, they are being asked to navigate grief.

Canceling the season opener is about much more than football. It gives the young men who shared a locker room with Hensley an opportunity to process their emotions and support one another during a devastating time.

Football teaches athletes about preparation, discipline, sacrifice and teamwork. But sometimes the most important part of being a teammate has nothing to do with what happens on the field.

It is about standing beside one another when life becomes difficult.

Lake Travis is now doing exactly that.

The stadium will eventually fill again. The pads will eventually be put on. The Friday night lights will eventually shine.

But for the Lake Travis football family, this season will forever carry the memory of Odin Hensley.

A young man who should have been preparing for his senior season is instead being remembered by the people who knew him.

The thoughts and prayers of the high school football community are with Hensley’s family, teammates, coaches and friends as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.

For now, football can wait.

The Lake Travis community has something far more important to do — mourn, remember and support one another.