Two years ago, Nathan Santa Cruz suffered a major head injury in the first Venice football game of the 2022 season. His recovery had been a long process, but did not deter him from continuing athletics. 

Last season, he placed 15th in the state for track, an accomplishment that led to athletic scholarship offers from schools like the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

“It was just a long journey to come back from being injured,” he said.

Santa Cruz said it’s important to spotlight these instances in order to bring awareness to them. 

“There was this one football player that just passed away, and he suffered a similar injury in college,” he said. 

The player he is referring to is Medrick Burnett Jr. who played for Alabama A&M. The player sustained head injuries during a game and has since passed. 

After his injury, Santa Cruz was in the hospital for two weeks. 

“They took a piece of skull out of my head,” he said. “Going through that and then also the same year going to state for track, it was kind of a moment where I could do anything.” 

Santa Cruz said seeing his mom cry made him feel like he couldn’t give up. 

“I have to go all in. I’m ready to run the fastest I’ve ever run this year,” he said.  

Former Venice athletic trainer Jason Noonan was working the night of Santa Cruz’s injury. According to Noonan, Santa Cruz suffered an uncal herniation which is caused by pressure inside of the skull. 

“This pressure was the result of a brain bleed caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation,” he said. 

After the event, Noonan started teaching more about AVMs in their cardiovascular curriculums. 

“I wanted my students to understand how rare and serious conditions like AVMs are,” he said.

“Having a certified medical professional present that night wasn’t just helpful—it was lifesaving,” said Noonan. 

Noonan said that sports medicine is so much more than treating injuries, but it can turn “a life-threatening situation into a coordinated response.”

“For medical professionals, moments like this are both defining and humbling,” he said. 

Noonan said coming back from an injury like that is “a testament to his courage, determination, and the care he received.”

“For athletes, a traumatic brain injury is life-altering,” he said. “It often leads to physical, emotional, and psychological hurdles.” 

“His journey to being scouted for athletic scholarships is remarkable and inspiring.”