SOUTH WAYNE — When teams play Black Hawk-Warren, it’s hard for opponents not to notice the 6-foot-5 teenager standing on the sideline with footballs in hand. He hastily follows the line referees to give them the football when asked, and he cleans the ball for his quarterback Eli Schliem. But more than anything, manager Matthew Hagen would love to be on the field playing with his classmates — Marfan’s disease is what holds him back.

Marfan’s disease is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. People with Marfan’s are often tall — hence Hagen’s 6-5 frame — with long limbs and flexible joints and often wear glasses or contacts. The issue with connective tissue can lead to complications, including an enlarged aortic root, like Hagen has. Although he has been mitigating the problem with heart medication since he was in first grade, it has only done so much. Surgery has now become a necessity to prevent an aortic dissection — a complete split of the aorta.

While football is an outlet for Hagen — distracting him from the unknown ahead — his teammates are worried for his health.

“They are scared. They don’t exactly know what’s going to go on. They don’t know how to react,” Hagen said.

So to show their love and support for Hagen’s upcoming surgery on Oct. 15, the Black Hawk-Warren football team presented him with a signed banner and football during the Homecoming pep rally on Friday, Oct. 4 before their game on Saturday.

“I was shocked. I wanted to cry really bad, but I held back tears,” Hagen said about the surprise gift. “Everybody else cried. I was the one that held it back. It shows the team thinks of me.”

In addition, the team presented Hagen with the week’s Lion Heart. Each week, the team awards a player with a Lion Heart for their play and commitment to the team.

“He does a ton of stuff and never asks for anything. He’s there when he’s asked and does everything he needs to. He’s a Warrior through and through,” Black Hawk-Warren head coach Desie Breadon said. “Lion Hearts are for guys that play big and put their team first. We thought  Matthew is the perfect example of that.” 

The gifts and recognition were just small samples of the team’s gratitude toward Hagen, as he prepares for surgery on Oct. 15.

“I love Matthew; he is my ball boy,” Schliem said. “He comes up to me every game and makes sure my game balls are ready. He always has a smile on his face and makes everyone positive. He puts a lot of work into this program. He deserved everything that he’s gotten.”