Trevor Zuehlke was a gifted athlete who impacted any sport that he competed in, however it was nothing compared to the positive impact that he made on the lives of those around him.

Zuehlke sustained a traumatic brain injury during his junior football season in 2019 and never fully recovered. He was put into a medically induced coma to help relieve swelling on his brain and was never able to walk or talk again. The 21-year-old passed away last Thursday after having a major seizure.

His funeral will be this morning at 10:10 a.m. (time selected in honor of his number 10 jersey) at the Britton-Hecla Arena.

Britton-Hecla coach and athletic director Steph Symens knew Trevor well.

“He’s a year older than my son,” Symens said. “His sister and my daughter are in the same class.”

Needless to say, it has been a difficult week in the community ever since his passing.

“It’s somber. It’s hard to … it’s just been tough,” Symens said. “We’re trying to do the best we can. Our football season just started and Trevor loved football, so it’s been a little tough on some of our players.”

While Zuehlke was unable to compete following that tragic accident, he was still a prominent part of his school. He was selected as captain of the basketball and football teams, and was chosen homecoming king.

He was a regular attender of many events connected to Britton-High High School.

“His parents did a great job and his caregivers getting him out to whatever sporting event was going on,” Symens said. “His sisters played volleyball, so they’d come to volleyball games; football games, he’d be over on the sidelines with the team; and basketball he’s in the gym.”

And whenever Zuehlke was around, he lifted the spirits of others.

Symens said Zuehlke had a special connection with young students while he was growing up, helping with little kids football and basketball.

“He just did so much for our youth and everything,” Symens said. “He’s just a great kid.”

That rapport continued after Zuehlke was confined to a wheelchair.

“He was still in our school district. He would be in our school and kids would go and talk to him. They’d say hi to him as he’s going to his therapies for the school,” she said. “Little kids knew who he was and would always say hi to him in the morning. He’s just been a part of our school.”

Symens, who coached Zuehlke in track and field, said that he was a gifted athlete in multiple sports.

She said that Zuehlke, who was the quarterback of the football team, was a leader, but more importantly he was a servant leader.

That is best exemplified by a photo that was captured on the sideline of a football game.

“My favorite picture is him in his full football (gear) tying the shoe of one the water boys on the sideline,” Symens said. “It didn’t matter if he was older. He’s in his full pads and he’s tying the water boy’s shoe, because it was untied. Just the type of person he was.”

Symens said that no matter where she went in recent years, individuals ranging from athletes to officials, always stopped to ask how Trevor was doing.

The football players will wear special decals on their helmets this season and will offer them to opposing teams as well.

While Symens said the school has not retired Zuehlke’s number 10 football jersey, no one else has worn it either since his final game.

“I have not ordered a number 10 in the high school. Nobody has that high school jersey, yet,” Symens said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever order another one.”