Logan Rosenquist has never let a little thing like crutches stand in his way.
Show animals in the stock show. Done it.
Run track. Done it.
Be a part of the football team. Done it.
“I’ve never had the mentality that I can’t do something,” says the Wylie senior. “If I can’t do something, I will tell you, but I am going to try first.”
Logan was born with a tethered spinal cord, meaning his spinal cord was attached to his tailbone. The problem wasn’t discovered until he was 6 months old.
“I was laid down by my babysitter for a nap,” he said. “When I woke up, I was completely paralyzed. They took me to the doctor and he said take him to Cook Children’s Hospital.
Logan remained paralyzed for two months until surgery could be performed to de-tether his spinal cord. He regained full movement except in his legs.
“I’ve always been on crutches,” he said. “I don’t know anything different. I’ve learned how to do everything and cope with everything. I’ve lived life to the fullest. Nothing has stopped me.”
On Friday nights, Logan can be seen on the sideline with the Wylie Bulldogs. He is one of 10 student trainers who bring the Bulldogs water, wraps tape around ankles, helps carry equipment and assist athletic trainer Brian Stuart.
The student trainers are at every practice and game, and Logan has been a trainer since his buddies started playing football in 7th grade.
“All my friends, they are on the football team,” he said. “They told me to come be a part of it. All my buddies are out here. Everyone treats me like one of the family.”
The same year that Logan joined the 7th-grade football team as a trainer, he also joined the track team. Coach Michael Elliott realized how badly Logan wanted to run in an actual race.
“Coach Elliott said, ‘Logan, how bad do you want to run track,’ Logan recalls. “I said, ‘I want to be a part of something besides just standing on the sideline.’”
So Coach Elliott put him into a race at the Wylie track meet that year.
“I just wanted to compete,” Logan said. “I knew I was going to get last. That didn’t stop me. I just went out there and had fun.”
As it turned out, Logan fell during the race, but he got back up and continued to run.
“Everyone was running down there on the track and chanting my name, so I had to finish it,” he said.
Everyone at the track meet that day was cheering Logan and encouraging him as he made his way around the track on his crutches.
“I thought it was crazy, honestly,” Logan said. “It felt like a dream. I have never felt more a part of a team. Knowing you finished something that you started felt great.”
Logan also is in the Wylie FFA and ag program, where he competes in judging competitions and shows animals. He has been showing pigs in stock shows since he was 9 years old.
“All my family has done it,” he said. “It runs in my blood.”
Logan said he has never had any problems handling the workload or controlling his animals. And he said people are always willing to help when help is needed.
“My stock show family, they have done everything they can to help me,” he said. “They will help me with anything I need. All you have to do is ask.”
Logan gets up every morning and goes to the Wylie farm around 7:15 a.m. to feed his hogs and then heads to school. After school, he heads to football practice. After that, he catches dinner before heading back to the farm to work with his pigs.
“Then I start it all over again the next day,” he said. “I’m busy. Football and hogs. But I wouldn’t want anything else. I wouldn’t trade it.”
Ask Logan which one he prefers, and he can’t answer. He says it is neck-in-neck. But it soon becomes apparent that football actually has a slight edge.
“Football is my passion,” he admits.
Logan will go to Tarleton State next year and major in kinesiology. He said his years as a football trainer and his personal experiences with physical therapy helped him choose the degree, although he hasn’t yet decided if he wants to be a physical therapist or a sports trainer.
“I’ve always been in love with football and doing sports medicine,” he said. “But everyone has helped me with physical therapy. Why not give back to what has helped me the most?”
Fortunately, he does not have to decide right away.
“I’m going to wait it out and see,” he said. “As of right now, I’m going to major in kinesiology and go from there.
Logan said he is grateful to his family and his friends who have supported him his entire life and encouraged him to follow his dreams.
“It’s all the people who have supported me, my friends and family,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here today without them. I wouldn’t be as confident as I am.”
He is also grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wylie football program and to Coach Hugh Sandifer and Athletic Trainer Brian Stuart for giving him that opportunity.
“I’ve loved it,” he said. “It’s been fun. Most of these guys, they are like brothers. They would do anything for me and I would do anything for them. I want to thank Stu for giving me the opportunity and showing me how to do sports medicine. I want to thank Stu and Coach Sandifer.
“I’ve made so many good friends and so many good memories. I’ve always loved it. I’ve loved being a part.”