"These players become like family members," said Schweigert, who spoke to the Pinke family Saturday morning after an extensive, eight-hour surgery Friday night. "When these things occur, we know wins and losses take a backseat to what the program is all about. It's about building relationships and preparing young men for the future. When I think about Hunter, I know he's got a strong Christian faith and is the spiritual leader on our team. I know he'll be very courageous and fight through any adversity that this accident has dealt him."

Schweigert said Pinke will spend the next three days in a Denver hospital to heal and determine the next steps.

Thank you all for prayers and well wishes. Surgery in a bit and then the recovery process begins. Can’t wait to get to work. Thank you all again I have no words to describe the support and prayer that’s been shared.

I WILL WALK AGAIN!!



All love!! pic.twitter.com/pVVUjrtnnn — HP (@hunter_pinke) December 28, 2019

Pinke, a 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior-to-be, comes from a UND athletics family. His mother Katie Pinke threw discus for the track and field team and his grandfather (Fred Lukens) played basketball at UND.

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Pinke, who's from Wishek, N.D., and played high school sports at South Border, is a mechanical engineering major. Pinke, who is a school leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program, played extensively on special teams the past two seasons. As a redshirt freshman, he caught three passes for 54 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown catch at UC Davis.

A number of current and former UND athletes took to social media over the weekend to offer encouragement. UND women's basketball coach Travis Brewster tweeted Saturday morning his team's game against the University of New Orleans later in the day would be in honor of Pinke.

Pinke was skiing in Keystone, Colo., before being transported to St. Anthony's Hospital in Lakewood, Colo.

A GoFundMe was organized by Erica Yaggie on behalf of the Pinke family.