HALPAIN UNDERSTANDS LONG TERM GOALS

He refused to quit.

Triton Halpain endured so many surgeries to be able to play football his senior year even he is not certain of the exact number.

“I had to keep going to doctors and I ended up having I think 15 or 16 surgeries in like eight months,” said Halpain.”

The surgeries were due to a diagnosis of EOE, or Eosinophilic esophagitis, early last season.

EOE, according to Penn Medicine is “is an inflammation of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach), caused by a specific white blood cell – the eosinophil.”

“They thought I had ruptured my esophagus,” said Halpain.

Having a surgery almost bi-weekly could lead about anyone to get behind academically, especially for the couple that included hospital stays.

“I did a little bit but I got it all caught up,” said Halpain.

A starting receiver and outside linebacker Halpain was among the plethora of injuries during the season opener in Oklahoma.

That particular injury, early in the game, was to a knee and had a grim initial diagnosis.

“I was worried about it,” Halpain admits. “But it just ended up being a bone bruise so I was back out there the next week.”

Halpain has made eight solo tackles, including one about to occur as shown above.

“He’s a hard working kid that has been patient and waited for his time to play and is taking advantage of that opportunity,” said head coach Doc Crowley. “Doesn’t say much, just shows up and does his job.”

Though the Bearcats are just 1-2 at his point, and coming off an open date, it is the next seven weeks that will determine a playoff position and ultimately be a judge of the success of the season.

“Last week we were just trying to get better throughout the whole situation, going one by one,” said Halpain. “We’ve got Cedarville this week and we’re not going to take them lightly.”

Halpain is obviously familiar with the step-by-step approach to reaching a long term goal.

"We have to continue to get better every week to beat Mansfield and Charleston,” he said.

Besides football practice and games, Halpain’s day includes AI programming and English and, as a senior, he has completed his graduation requirements with those classes.

Besides football Halpain is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and he is debating on playing basketball – he was on the court this summer to try to improve speed and footwork – and he typically participates in track as well.

While he did not play for the Bearcats he also likes to play golf when he can.

As far as his days after high school Halpain the focus is not clear.

“I can either go to ATU-Ozark for automotive technology or I can go to (work at) Wes Frazier in Mansfield.”