When Antioch senior Harrison Victor steps onto his home field on Friday night, he will probably feel a flood of emotion.
It will be Victor’s final regular-season game, and he knows the Sequoits will win the Northern Lake County Conference title outright if they beat Wauconda.
The game may also conjure memories of the first time Victor walked under the bright lights at that stadium as a football-loving 6-year-old recovering from Langerhans cell histiocytosis. His unforgettable night in 2015 was arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“It was an awesome experience,” Victor said. “I got to meet the guys, run out and get the tee after kickoffs, and go in the team room at halftime.
“To be a little kid and to be going through everything I had been through, that meant the world to me. I felt like I was on top of the world.”
Eleven years later, the 6-foot, 210-pound Victor is one of the reasons the Sequoits (8-0, 6-0) are on top of the conference and are projected to be a top seed in the playoffs. The three-year starter stars at defensive end and also plays tight end.
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Antioch coach Brian Glashagel, who met Victor in 2015, remembers him reappearing as a freshman and has watched him grow into a standout.
“The math in my head made it seem like it wasn’t that many years ago, but there he was coming into high school,” Glashagel said. “He was a good football player as a freshman. But what really makes the story even cooler is how he’s turned into an all-conference type of player.”
The rare disorder that affected Victor occurs when an excess of Langerhans cells, which are a type of white blood cells, causes tissue damage or lesions. Treatments include cancer therapies.
“My mom told me that I was complaining that I had pain in my hip region,” Victor said. “One day, she took me to get it checked out, and no one could say what was wrong. Finally, there was a doctor we saw in Grayslake that said I have cancer.”
Victor underwent chemotherapy at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago for about a year, and the treatment was successful. He has been healthy ever since.
“During the treatments, I was afraid, but I was too little to know completely what was going on,” he said. “Some people are scared of needles, but I got used to them, and going down to Chicago became a rhythm and a routine.
“Now I think about it sometimes, but I wouldn’t say it affects my daily life.”
Football, on the other hand, has become a constant in Victor’s life. That’s true for his entire family, which includes his younger brother, Harvey, a junior defensive tackle for the Sequoits.
“He’s definitely been a big part of my football life,” Harvey Victor said. “I look up to him in a lot of ways, especially for what he’s overcome to get to where he is now.”
Harrison Victor started for the Sequoits as a sophomore, and being on the field for the 2024 season opener brought back memories.
“It felt pretty surreal to be out there starting in my first varsity game,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘This is crazy,’ because of how far I had come.”
Victor’s journey is also marked by his ability to adapt to different roles. He played linebacker primarily in his varsity debut and then played exclusively on the offensive line last season.
“I’ve become sort of a Swiss Army knife kind of player who is pretty versatile,” Victor said. “Last year, we needed someone to step up and play at tackle to help us win games. I’m definitely enjoying where I’m playing this year.”
Defensive end is a good fit for Victor, who is also a high-level competitor in the discus and the shot put. He “plays angry,” according to Glashagel, who coaches him in track and field as well.
“I love being able to pass rush and go one-on-one with a tackle,” Victor said. “I get to play very laterally and read things. Linebacker was fun, but I’m not much of a downhill guy.
“Playing at other positions has helped me develop over time because I understand the little details of what a lot of players do. But defensive end fits me very well, and getting a sack is like a gift from heaven.”
For Victor, football is the gift that keeps on giving. Antioch senior quarterback Ethan Patel has known him for years and has noticed how the sport brings out the best version of him.
“He always appreciates everything, and he’s not bothered by much, and if he is, he uses it in a positive way,” Patel said. “As I’ve gone through high school, I’m reminded of what he dealt with and how it shaped his life.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.