Overview

• Head coach Tyler Fenwick visited Byers during therapy on Wednesday, surprising him with a jersey, tickets and an invitation to handle the coin toss as an honorary captain.
• The appearance is planned for Missouri Western’s homecoming game on Oct. 18 against Pittsburg State.
• Byers has been rehabbing about 30 hours a week at Ability K‑C following two surgeries, according to local reports.
• He was injured Sept. 3 in his first high school game at Lee’s Summit High, suffering three broken neck bones, an incomplete spinal cord injury and a concussion that initially left him partially paralyzed.
• Community support includes a GoFundMe that has topped $44,000, and his father says he likely will not return to contact sports.