Jake Freeman, 18, Rochester, left, received the Sagamore of the Wabash award for saving the life of his friend, Drew Strasser, right. Shown in the middle is state Sen. Stacey Donato. Photo by Mary Beth Spalding.

By Mary Beth Spalding
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER – For the poise with which Rochester High School senior Jake Freeman handled an emergency situation — and the inspirational outcome of saving his good friend’s life — the 18-year-old has earned Indiana’s highest civilian award.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, state Sen. Stacey Donato, R-District 18, presented Freeman, Rochester, with the Sagamore of the Wabash for saving the life of Drew Strasser, also a senior at the high school. 

During an early morning tennis team practice at the high school on Aug. 5, Strasser collapsed from a then-unknown heart condition.

Freeman, a tennis teammate, administered 60 chest compressions, breaths and helped with use of an automated external defibrillator until paramedics arrived.

Not too many weeks later, the young men were playing doubles together in a sectional tennis match.

Strasser said he remembers nothing of the incident, just waking in the hospital. Now he has a defibrillator implanted in his side to deliver an immediate shock should his heart again go into arrhythmia.

But the pair cannot imagine what might have happened that early August morning if Freeman hadn’t been there to put his emergency life-saving skills to use.

Freeman has been a lifeguard at the city of Rochester pool for two seasons and received necessary training and certification in CPR. He hadn’t had to use that training until Strasser collapsed.

Freeman said he was afraid he wouldn’t remember what he learned when he needed it.

“The weird thing about the whole situation,” Freeman said, “is that I didn’t feel like I was even the one in control of everything … How I’m thinking of it is like God was inside of me using my hands and mind to save his life and bring it back.”

Freeman also credits the actions of tennis coach Jesse Atkinson, who he said called 911 and set up the AED.

The city of Rochester honored Freeman Thursday during a meeting of the Board of Works and Safety at the fire station. Mayor Ted Denton presented him with a commendation from the city that read in part: “Many involved have stated that without the quick and experienced actions by Jake the young man would have died. … To say we are proud of our city lifeguard is an understatement.”

Local Lutheran EMS officials also presented Freeman with a life-saving award certificate.

Freeman and his parents, Matt and Amy Freeman, were there for Jake to accept the local honors, but they were surprised by the Sagamore of the Wabash award.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch also sent Freeman a letter and was to have been on hand for the event, but she came down with Covid and was unable to attend.

“He was able to retain everything he learned in that CPR training class, and he had taken it a year and a half before this incident,” said Matt Freeman, his dad, who said he was shocked by the state honor. “It’s a proud moment for his mom and I.”