Unity Christian’s Jake Chapman returns to the sidelines to root on teammates
Unity Christian junior Jake Chapman wears his football jersey during a Week 9 game against Holland Christian on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
JENISON, Mich. - Jake Chapman was back on the sidelines in his No. 26 football jersey on Friday night.
Even though the Hudsonville Unity Christian junior wasn’t in pads, he was thrilled to be back with his teammates during a football game against Holland Christian in Week 9.
“It feels good to be back out here with the team,” Chapman said. “I missed hanging out and talking to my teammates and just being on the sideline. It’s a lot better than being in a hospital room.”
Chapman was hospitalized for two weeks after suffering cardiac arrest on Sept. 27. He had surgery to implant a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to shock his heart if it ever needs it.
Chapman looked like his old self while chatting and laughing with teammates during the game. But he’s still not fully back to normal.
“I woke up with some chest pain this morning,” he said on Friday. “They thought it was a muscular issue caused by how I slept last night. Hopefully, it’s just that. I was talking to my doctor, (he said) they could have hit a nerve when they put in the ICD. So hopefully it’s not that.”
He said he has a surgical scar on his chest and on his side.
Chapman was allowed to attend the Unity Christian football game in Week 8, but watched from the press box on a rainy night. His teammates were happy to see him again on Friday night.
“It’s nice that he’s here to support us,” Junior quarterback Jackson DeHoop said. “So for him to be back here was positive. But it’s also hard not seeing him in pads and not playing.”
Chapman is a 6-foot-7 tight end on the football team and a center on the basketball team. But he doesn’t know yet if he’ll be cleared to play sports again.
“They’re not sure yet,” Chapman said. “With basketball, if I were to play, it would be toward the end of the season. They’re not sure about football yet. If I’m not allowed to play, I’d find some way to be part of the team.”
Photos of Unity Christian from Friday’s game can be viewed here.
Unity Christian junior Jake Chapman cheers on his teammates during a Week 9 game against Holland Christian on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
