For senior Payton Pitts, one moment during this past football season altered his viewpoint on everything. When a close friend and teammate fell to a serious injury mid-game, it forced him to rethink what truly mattered. In sports, as well as in life. 

Football had been a significant part of his life ever since he joined the team his freshman year, but after witnessing the accident in real time, his perspective shifted. It showed how quickly things can change, how one moment can alter everything. It helped him understand why it is important to keep moving forward, getting to know more people, building stronger relationships and making the most out of every experience, good and bad.

“This past season, during a home game against Morris, one of my close friends on the team, [senior] Jack Parker, had a really bad injury,” Pitts said. “He had to get carted off the field and taken to the hospital. He said he was paralyzed for three seconds from the neck down. That was definitely when I started to pray again, and it has changed my view on life.” 

Over the past four years, injuries have become a constant part of who Pitts is as an athlete, as well as his focus on others. Whether dealing with his own setbacks or watching teammates go through theirs, he has developed a reputation for checking in and making sure others are doing alright.

That mindset is something both teammates and staff at Kaneland High School continue to notice. Athletic trainer Maggie Walker has grown to know Payton very well with his constant injuries

“Working with athletes who face repeated injuries, especially when it keeps them from the sport they love, is one of the most difficult parts of my job,” Walker said. “Payton in particular has experienced that reality more than most.”

Because of his injury history, Walker said Pitts is more susceptible to getting hurt again. But he continues to approach setbacks like constant injuries with persistence, choosing to stay involved rather than stepping back.

Those experiences have shaped Pitts beyond his experiences with sports. “It has definitely changed my whole view on life,” Pitts said.

Payton is known as someone who can strike up a conversation with almost anyone. He is often described as a social butterfly. Whether he is joking with teammates, encouraging younger athletes or simply checking in on friends, he has built a reputation for being someone people can rely on and trust.

Behind his outgoing personality,  he has faced challenges and has gone through lots of personal growth that many people might not fully understand.

Pitts said he began to grow more social during his freshman year after joining the Kaneland football team. The sport then became a major part of his life, testing him physically and mentally.

“I mean, I’ve had like nine or 10 concussions the past four years,” Pitts said.

For many athletes, that number alone might be enough to step away from the sport. Concussions can cause headaches, dizziness and memory issues that affect both performance and daily life. Pitts said those challenges have extended beyond sports. They impact his ability to keep up with schoolwork and memorization.

Even with those difficulties, he has continued to stay involved. Walker said one of the things that stands out most about Pitts is his commitment to the team, even when he is not able to fully participate.

Rather than distancing himself, Pitts continues to show up, looking for ways to contribute. Whether that means supporting teammates from the sideline or stepping into a different role, he has remained present.

Football is not the only sport Pitts competes in. During the spring season, he throws shot put for the Kaneland track team. Compared with football, the sport has resulted in fewer injuries, but it has still played an important role in shaping him as both an athlete and a person.

As the boys throwing captain, Pitts has taken on added responsibility. Instead of focusing only on his own performance, he spends time encouraging teammates and helping them improve. He said track helped him realize how much he values supporting others and seeing them succeed.

Payton’s growing focus has not gone unnoticed by his friends. 

“A few weeks ago, he started attending church, Bible studies and youth groups regularly,” senior Audrey Koller said. “These have definitely changed him. He is more talkative and happier than before. I think it’s really benefited him to be surrounded by people who are trying to help him improve. He has definitely perked up, and it seems like he’s less lonely.”

Koller, a good friend of his, said he stands out not just for his personality, but for how much he cares about the people around him. 

“He is funny and passionate, but also someone who consistently puts others before himself,” Koller said.

His willingness to keep pushing forward despite his numerous injuries shows just a small glimpse into Pitts as a person. In addition to multiple concussions, Pitts said he has no cartilage behind his kneecap, which causes grinding from overuse and leads to ongoing discomfort.

“I almost broke my ribs during a [football] game because I was playing on a hairline fracture,” Pitts said. Situations like that might discourage many athletes, but Pitts views them differently. Instead of focusing on frustration, he focuses on what those experiences have taught him.

Through football and track, he has learned “resilience, leadership and the importance of supporting others,” Pitts said. Those lessons have changed him into who he is, shaping how he approaches sports, as well as how he interacts with the people around him.

The injury to his teammate earlier this season has served as a constant reminder of how quickly things can change. Pitts watching someone close to him go through that pushed him to reflect on his own life and priorities. It has reinforced the importance of friendships, faith and community, things he said have become more meaningful to him over time.

While his time competing in high school sports may be wrapping up, the impact they have had on him will likely last far beyond his high school career.

The injuries and setbacks he has faced could have easily pushed him to quit. Instead, they were significant in shaping him into someone who continues to move forward while also lifting up those around him. 

“Keep going, stay positive and make sure the people around you are doing okay,” Pitts said.