2 Lakes players who looked out for terminally ill classmate now mourn him
As Lakes' football players hugged, hollered and congratulated each other after another North Suburban Prairie Division win and another one over their district rival, Luke Mertens grabbed the jerseys of two heroes.
He walked deliberately with them. The coach wanted to make sure that seniors Colin Orchard and Larry Holmgren were recognized for their efforts.
Off the field.
On a joyous night, Orchard and Holmgren were somber. Tears welled in their eyes. Words lodged in their throats.
“We have a very sick senior,” Mertens, after a long pause, said Friday night after his Eagles defeated Antioch 14-9 in Lake Villa to stretch their NSC Prairie winning streak to 22 games. It was the fourth year in a row that the Eagles had beaten the Sequoits.
You won't find Bryan Jardinico's name on Lakes' roster, but his initials were all over Lakes' players Friday, written on their arms and on their helmets. The players decorated their helmets themselves.
As Lakes and Antioch fought a hard-fought football game, Jardinico was at home fighting a brain tumor, courageously no doubt, until it took the senior's life early Saturday morning.
“I've been friends with him for four years,” said Holmgren, an outside linebacker, trying his best to hold his head high.
On any All-Great-Friend team, Holmgren and Orchard are first-teamers. In his weakest hours, Jardinico could count on both Holmgren and Orchard.
“Colin brought Bryan to my attention,” Mertens said of Orchard, a starting offensive guard for the Eagles. “He said that Bryan's all alone and he's terminally ill. (The football team) adopted Bryan as one of our own.”
Lakes, in fact, made Jardinico an honorary captain.
“All along,” Mertens said, “we have preached, 'Who cares about wins and losses? It's about the lives you touch.' These two guys are very inspirational.
“It's way more important than football what these two kids are doing,” Mertens added of Orchard and Holmgren. “I'm so proud of them.”
At that point, with his football coach trying to give perspective and remain as positive as possible, Orchard couldn't handle the hurt anymore. The big kid in pads hugged Mertens and sobbed. Holmgren couldn't hold back his emotions either. The two players grabbed their coach and wept together.
“You guys should be proud of yourselves for what you're doing,” Mertens told them. “You have helped (the Jardinico) family so much.”
Although Jardinico wasn't a football player, Mertens knew the student because he had him in class and knew he was ill. When Orchard and Holmgren weren't practicing with their football teammates, they were checking on their friend, making sure that he wasn't alone and that he had a friend next to him.
It's the greatest gift you can give someone: Yourself.
“Larry's been by the family's side, going over (to the home),” Mertens said. “That's a tough situation to be there every day, and he's done it.”
Lakes planned to have a graduation celebration for Jardinico last Thursday, Mertens said. The whole senior class was going to be there. Jardinico was too sick to attend, however. So it was canceled.
“The seniors were devastated,” Mertens said. “It was a devastating blow because everyone was really looking forward to having graduation for the kid.”
The intention was heroic.
Lakes can be proud of that, too.
jaguilar@dailyherald.com
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