Mater Dei football player leaves hospital after fight at practice
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SANTA ANA- A Mater Dei football player was taken to an emergency room this morning after a fight with another player during a campus practice left him with a concussion, broken teeth and a broken nose, his father said.
Jonathan Sedeno, 17, was nearly unconscious when he was brought to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, said his father, Joe.
The boy was released from the hospital this afternoon and was on his way to see an oral surgeon.
Police learned about the fight when Joe Sedeno contacted the Santa Ana Police Department to file a report; they did not receive a 911 call, according to Santa Ana Cpl. Jose Gonzalez.
The other player was also taken to the hospital by his parents, Gonzalez said. It is unclear what, if any, injuries he suffered.
The elder Sedeno said he talked to a Mater Dei assistant coach about what happened and was told it was “all a part of football.”
“No, this is not a part of football,” Joe Sedeno said. “His face looks like they took a baseball bat to him.''
He also said he asked to view Mater Dei's recording of the practice footage but was told he could not see it.
School President Patrick Murphy described the fight as “simply a football incident. It escalated and they took swings at each other.”
Sedeno said he was told his son, a wide receiver who was expected to play his first season of varsity football, was involved in a drill with another player. He said he was told that the other player grew frustrated with his son and began hitting him.
Coaches broke up the fight and an athletic trainer tended to the boys, Murphy said.
“They were running a football drill. Obviously it's a competitive situation. Something must have sparked it,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the dean's office at the school will launch an investigation, but he declined to comment on whether the boys involved have a disciplinary record or what the disciplinary action might be.
Police are still investigating the fight, and will present their findings to the District Attorney's Office, Gonzalez said.
Contact the writer: tharmonson@ocregister.com, dirving@ocregister.com, dsalazar@ocregister.com
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