Jake Olson, the blind former long snapper for the University of Southern California football team, brings his inspirational story to St. Thomas Academy.
Born with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, Olson lost his left eye at 10 months old. He lost sight in his right eye at age 12. But he kept pursuing his football dreams.
In Sept. 2017, Olson fulfilled his dream of playing for the Trojans. He took the field in the team's season opener and snapped the ball on a successful point-after-touchdown in the fourth quarter against Western Michigan. Former St. Thomas Academy football player Wyatt Schmidt was the holder on the play.
The St. Thomas Academy Fathers' Club is hosting the event, which is open to the public, at 7 p.m. on April 13 in the Vincent J. Flynn Hall at the Mendota Heights school. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and can be purchased online or at the door, subject to availability.
