Scoggins: As football begins, a time to honor and remember at Minneapolis South

Lenny Sedlock paced a hallway inside Minneapolis South, struggling to contain his emotions. His football team sat on the floor, listening solemnly to every word.

One player lowered his head and closed his eyes. Another stared at the ceiling, tears welling in his eyes.

Twenty minutes until their season opener, their minds flashed to three weeks ago and the pain they've endured since tragedy hit their program. Sedlock's voice grew loud as he recalled how a group of them had jumped courageously into a lake to try and save one of their teammates.

"I'm so proud of you guys," he said. "I love being your coach."

The start of a new season Wednesday night represented another step in the healing process for a family and a football team coping with the death of 15-year-old Sha-kym Adams, who drowned in Lake Nokomis in early August.

Sha-kym was a sophomore wide receiver. He worked hard this summer so he could make varsity and earn a letter. Teammates loved his determination.

"He was like a brother to us," senior quarterback Anthony Hockett said.

Sedlock and his captains hugged Sha-kym's family members. Eden Prairie's cheerleaders presented them roses.

"Our kids need this," Sedlock said.

Sha-kym had joined a group of players who decided to go for a swim after a summer workout. At some point, Sha-kym began to struggle in the water and drowned.

Sadness and guilt consumed teammates, especially those who were with him. Hockett was the first person to reach Sha-kym in the water, but he was unable to rescue him.

Hockett blamed himself for not being able to help his friend. But then he listened to Sha-kym's mother speak at a vigil later that night and felt comforted.

Her strength uplifted everyone.

"There were a lot of kids that tried to help him," Kimberly said on the field Wednesday. "Even one kid that didn't know how to swim at all. That takes guts."

Sports often become a therapeutic diversion from personal hardship, and so it is for these young men. They find comfort in each other's company. They go to dinner together and gather for barbecues. They hang out, play video games, anything just to be together.

"We feel like a family," junior defensive end Elerson Smith said. "We were always close but never this close."

If there's any light that can shine in this tragedy it's that Sha-kym's family and his teammates have felt the warm embrace of strangers and displays of compassion that make those hurting feel so loved.

"This is the most important lesson that we will learn all year," Grant said.

That gesture meant everything to Sha-kym's family and teammates. His mother spoke to the Eden Prairie contingent and then hugged each player as he left.

"For Eden Prairie to show so much respect for us as a team and for him as a player and his family, that's a class act," Hockett said.

The Minnesota Vikings offered their embrace, too. The organization provided buses to bring Sha-kym's family and South's varsity team to Winter Park last week to watch practice and tour the facility. Adrian Peterson and Cordarrelle Patterson spent time with the family and took photos with players.

University of St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso texted Sedlock the day of the accident. Gophers coach Jerry Kill called and talked to him for 20 minutes. High school coaches around the state reached out and offered their support.

"We want to thank everybody," said Sharrod, Sha-kym's father.

South's players are able to smile now when remembering their friend. They loved his positive attitude and his dedication. Sha-kym showed up for every captain's practice this summer, even on Saturdays.

"We're dedicating this season and this game to his family and Sha-kym himself," Hockett said on the eve of Wednesday's opener.

The outcome, as expected, didn't go the way they wanted. Eden Prairie was simply too powerful for South and won 48-6.

The final score was irrelevant. What truly mattered couldn't be found on a scoreboard.

"I want them to feel better," Kimberly Adams said. "I don't want this to go on and be a nightmare for them. Not at all. Just keep doing what they're doing."

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com