Butler County wears purple and gold for Karns City football quarterback Mason Martin

September 09, 2023 Last Updated: September 09, 2023 02:13 AM Local News

Mars High School Dance Team shows their support for Karns City’s Mason Martin, wearing purple and yellow ribbons in their hair, at Friday night’s game against Blackhawk on Sept. 8. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Mason Strong

Purple and gold are Karns City’s colors, but this past week, they were adopted by all of Butler County and beyond.

Students across Butler County school districts wore purple to school, football players wore purple decals and businesses put up signs outside their windows following Karns City quarterback Mason Martin’s injury that left him hospitalized with a brain bleed and collapsed lung.

Mars Area School District students typically don the Planets’ blue and yellow on Fridays, but on this Friday, purple and gold were more common choices for attire.

“(Mason’s accident) serves as a moment of pause and a reminder to us all of just how fragile life can be. It gives us perspective,” said Mark Gross, Mars Area School District superintendent. “We all have a common regard for humanity that extends far beyond our district's boundaries.“

Later that day, the Mars High School Dance Team could be seen at the evening’s football game wearing purple and gold bows.

Additionally, a group organized a fundraiser at the game for Mason Martin and his family.

At Butler’s football game against Brashear High School, Brashear head coach Andrew Moore saw one of his own players, Morrissee Williams, carted off the field.

“It’s extremely difficult. We've had a lot of situations hit close to home. (With Buffalo Bills safety) Damar Hamlin’s situation, a lot of our kids know him and witnessed that situation,“ Moore said. ”To see what happened with the kid from Karns City, he was in our prayers, we talked about him throughout the week. We prayed for him before the game as well. To see it happen so frequently, it makes you hold your breath.“

Hamlin in a Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals suffered a cardiac arrest.

A Bulter running back, David Graef also spoke to the way the community has come together in support of Mason.

“I think it’s beautiful because it shows the togetherness that football brings to people. A lot of people, for a long time, really, found football as a dangerous sport. A bad sport for your kids. They are going to get hurt and things like that. But, really, it’s just a brotherhood. Every team we play, win or lose, it’s a brotherhood,” David said.

Raising funds for Mason Martin at Friday night’s Mars football game on Sept. 8 are David Hilderbrand and Kristen Sichler, back row, and Elliott Sichler and Hadley Sichler, front row. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Earlier this week, purple and yellow filled the halls at Moniteau School District’s schools.

They wanted to wear purple and gold to show that they care, Allie Pry said, sitting at a table in the cafeteria with friends.

“We’re all here for him,” Allie said, as her friends nodded.

Logan Campbell, a football player, said he would tell Mason to keep fighting. He and his friends said they wore purple to support Mason and his family.

Later, volleyball players from both Moniteau and Keystone School Districts posed with a Mason Strong banner.

Moniteau volleyball and Keystone volleyball players pose in front of a Mason Strong banner before their game in support of Mason Martin. D9 Sports photo

Denny Martin, Mason’s father, said he was overwhelmed seeing groups of people adorned in purple and gold.

“There’s been a lot of crying,” Martin said. “I’ve cried more in the last week than I have in my whole life, that’s for sure.”

“The smallest little thing means a lot,” he said. “It’s hard to put into words.”

Karns City Area School District superintendent Eric Ritzert said the show of support has been humbling.

“It’s definitely uplifting,” Ritzert said. “It reminds us that when the chips are down, people do have your back.”

Mason is a senior at Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School where sports teams are closely followed by students. The rural district is a small one, with each grade level in the high school made up of approximately 100 students, Ritzert said.

Most students in the high school would have taken classes together for the past six years and would have probably known each other throughout their time in school, Ritzert said.

The students know Mason, which makes the accident more challenging to cope with, he said.

“(The incident) has brought us closer together,” Ritzert said. “We’re a tight-knit community to begin with. Through this difficult time, it’s sort of united us as one to come together to maintain hope and continue to pray for Mason’s recovery.”

In the past week, some students have sought out counseling resources brought in by neighboring districts and outside agencies, Ritzert said.

Counselors from Moniteau and Clarion school districts, Center for Community Resources and more were available in the district this week, Ritzert said.

“(But by) the grace of God, it could happen anywhere,” Ritzert said. "As a school system, our primary charge is to take care of our students. As a superintendent, I know every superintendent out there would be doing everything within their means to help their kids.“

Other school districts stepping in puts administrators’s commitment to their students in their charge, Ritzert said.

“We greatly appreciate so many offers to help — it’s really appreciated,” Ritzert said. “We’re focused on making sure our students are well, our staff is OK and on Mason’s recovery.”

Efforts to benefit the Martin family include a benefit dinner and a Gofundme account, which can be accessed at www.gofundme.com/f/tf5nc-mason-martin. The benefit dinner for Mason Martin will take place at the Sugarcreek Township Volunteer Fire Department, on Sunday, Sept. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. An eat-in or takeout barbecue chicken dinner will cost $15.

Eagle Assignment Editor Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.

Ridgway’s football team crashes through a banner made to honor Karns City’s injured quarterback, Mason Martin, at Friday night’s game. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

Students at Butler Senior High School show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Submitted photo/Butler Senior High School Student Council

Students at Butler Senior High School show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Butler Senior High School Student Council photo

Students at AC Valley School District show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Submitted photo/AC Valley School District

The Slippery Rock women's club soccer team show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Submitted photo/Ally Fennell

The Ridgway Elker Football team show their support for Mason Martin. Ridgway Elker Football photo

Staff at the Muddy Creek Animal Clinic show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow, along with a "Mason Strong" sign. Muddy Creek Animal Clinic photo

Members of the Catawba Ridge Football team show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Catawba Ridge Football photo

Karns City Lady Gremlins soccer team show their support for Mason Martin prior to their game. Karns City Lady Gremlins soccer photo

The Armstrong County Courthouse was lit up in purple and yellow in support of Mason Martin. Pat Fabian, Armstrong County Commissioner photo

Kids and staff at Brookville YMCA Laugh and Learn Daycare show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Brookville YMCA Laugh and Learn Daycare photo

Staff at Sugarcreek Elementary show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Sugarcreek Elementary PTO photo

Karns City Gremlins Youth Football show their support of Mason Martin with custom “#2 Strong” vinyl stickers on their helmets. Karns City Gremlins Youth Football/Cheer photo

Students at Victory Elementary show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Victory Elementary PTO photo

Staff at Suburban Animal Clinic show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Suburban Animal Clinic photo

Students at Freeport Area High School show their support for Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Freeport Area School District photo

Residents of Concordia Lutheran Ministries show their support for Mason Martin by making signs and wearing purple and yellow. Concordia Lutheran Ministries photo

Students at Chicora Elementary show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Chicora Elementary photo

The Grove City boys’ soccer team show their support of Mason Martin before their game. Grove City boys’ soccer photo

Students from the Union School District show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Union School District photo

The Coudersport Football Program of Coudy Junior/Senior High School in Coudersport, PA, show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Coudersport Football Program photo

Students and staff at Redbank Valley Intermediate School show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Redbank Valley School District photo

Staff at Chicora Eye Care show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Chicora Eye Care photo

Students and staff at Redbank Valley Primary School show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Redbank Valley School District photo

Students at Armstrong Junior/Senior High show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Armstrong Junior/Senior High photo

Staff at Chicora Dental Care show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. Chicora Dental Care photo

The Keystone Panthers Football team show their support of Mason Martin with custom purple number 2 vinyl stickers on their helmets. Keystone Panthers Football photo

Students from West Hills Intermediate School in Kittanning, PA, show their support of Mason Martin by wearing purple and yellow. West Hills Intermediate School photo