Prep football: Del Oro player can rejoin team after hot practice sent him to hospital
Rico Petrini Jr. on Monday was cleared by his doctors to resume football practice and to suit up with the Del Oro High School team, his father told The Bee on Thursday.
Petrini on Sept. 6 collapsed during an after-school practice when temperatures hit a record 115-degrees in Placer County. The shortened practice included multiple water breaks and ice towels.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior lineman was taken to a local emergency room via ambulance as he experienced heatstroke symptoms.
Petrini’s father told The Bee last week he didn’t have issue with Del Oro coach Mike Maben, whom he said cares about the players, but he was disappointed that a policy for practicing in such hot temperatures was even allowed by the Placer Unified School District. The district said in a statement last week its member schools have been updated on policy regarding hot weather, and Del Oro engaged in before-school practices the rest of last week. The district said students are not allowed to compete in outdoor activities when the temperature hits 104 degrees or higher.
Petrini participated in a light walkthrough practice late last week but did not engage in any regular practice activities and did not travel when Del Oro beat River Valley in Yuba City 41-6 to improve to 4-0. Petrini will be in uniform Friday when Del Oro hosts Menlo-Atherton of the Bay Area.
“He is back,” Rico Petrini the father said. “He is definitely happy to be back with his teammates.”
This story was originally published September 15, 2022 at 1:18 PM.