SUMMARY OF INTERNAL REVIEW

BRAEDEN BRADFORTH MATTER

On August 1, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., the Garden City Community College (GCCC) football team began their
first day of conditioning with all cleared athletes. The weather was cooler than the average historic temperature
of 91 degrees. At the start time of practice, the temperature was 84 degrees. The required player’s dress for
practice was jersey and pants only.

In attendance were ten (10) football coaches. In addition, the Head Athletic Trainer, TJ Horton (Head
Trainer Horton), reported having eight (8) student helpers and three (3) certified trainers on site. The trainers
had large Gatorade containers on the sideline and each student helper had six (6) water bottles in their carrier.
At the practice, Head Trainer Horton reported that there were sixty (60) gallons of water, ten (10) ice towels, an
ice chest with injury ice and bags, plastic wrap, ten (10) 6-packs of water bottles, an AED, a sideline kit with a
rescue inhaler, splint bag and crutches at the site.

The team was divided into two (2) groups referenced as “Gold” and “Brown”. Braeden Bradforth
(Braeden) was a member of the defensive team which was referred to as the Brown group. While one group
began their drills, the other group waited on the sideline or bleachers. They were being provided water,
assistance with stretching, and waiting for their turn on the field. The workout consisted of thirty-six (36) 50-yard
sprints, with thirty (30) seconds of rest in between each sprint. Braeden was categorized as a “Bigs”, which
required him to complete each set of sprints in eight (8) seconds. No punishments or additional running was
added for not completing in time, but notes were taken by all coaches. The coaches were told that they could
have their athletes complete the conditioning the following day. Neither Head Trainer Horton nor Head Coach
Jeff Sims ever noticed Braeden drop a knee to the ground, or complain about the drills.

Practice ended at approximately 9:05 p.m. and a team meeting was held immediately following in the
Academic Building’s lecture hall on the campus of GCCC, across Campus Avenue from the football field. At the
conclusion of practice, Head Trainer Horton remained at the football field to treat an athlete, and for extra
stretching, for about five (5) minutes before he proceeded to the Academic Building for the meeting. Coach
Caleb Young reported that he was trying to get the last three (3) or four (4) players to gather their things quickly
to get back to campus for the meeting. Coach Young stated that as they were walking from the football field, he
noticed Braeden stumbled a little trying to speed up before regaining his balance. Coach Young responded to
him by saying “Hey, you’re good. Let’s go” to which Braeden responded back “Yeah, I’m good. I’m good”.

Braeden started walking in the direction of the dorms and Coach Young asked him if he was quitting.
Braeden did not respond with words, but rather shook his head, in what appeared to Coach Young as
disappointment, and Braeden continued to walk away. Coach Young reported to the team meeting at
approximately 9:15 p.m. and informed Braeden’s position coach that he had apparently quit the team and walked
to the dorms. Coach Young reported that the team meeting was about twenty (20) minutes long, after which
Coach Sims dismissed the team to their rooms for the night. A few minutes later, an athlete reported that there
was a football player passed out outside. Coach Young immediately ran across the yard to the alley in between
the West Hall RA apartment fence and West Hall. Coach Young immediately called Coach Sims and Coach
Sims instructed Coach Young to call Head Trainer Horton. Head Trainer Horton also reported that Coach Sims
had called and asked him to respond to a football player that was down outside the dorms. Coach Young called
Head Trainer Horton and directed him to where the athlete was located.

Head Trainer Horton stated that he was driving in the 3500 block of North Campus Drive, a few blocks
from the GCCC campus, when he received the phone call from Coach Sims regarding an athlete needing
assistance. Upon arrival, back to the campus, at 9:53 p.m., Head Trainer Horton began assessment and
treatment. He called 911 at 10:00 p.m.
 Finney County EMS arrived on the scene at 10:09 p.m., assessed Braeden’s condition, and transported
Braeden to St. Catherine Hospital, arriving at 10:33 p.m. Braeden passed away at approximately 11:06 p.m.

GCCC staff has determined there was not a video surveillance camera in the area where Braeden
collapsed. Nor do any video surveillance tapes exist of any area where Braeden may have been on August 1,
2018. GCCC’s video surveillance cameras are not continuously monitored; rather, they record video for review
if a situation arises.

Finally, as a result of the internal review process conducted by GCCC, several steps have been taken,
or are in the process of being completed. Those steps include the following:

• Hired additional Athletic Trainer – August 20, 2018

• Hired Strength and Conditioning Coach – January 3, 2019
• CPR and First Aid training for all coaches
• Immediate follow ups with players that leave practice for welfare check
• Develop policy/protocol in recognizing and treating heat related illnesses
• Increase campus police personnel to provide 24-7 coverage – pending
• Develop an Athletic Training Handbook – pending