VICIS ZERO1 helmets are multilayered, highly engineered helmets that help reduce impact forces and outrank competing helmet ratings in the NFL/NFLPA laboratory performance testing for 2018. Image via VICIS

Visalia Unified School district has become the first school district in the nation to fully equip its varsity student athletes with the VICIS ZERO1 football helmets.

VICIS ZERO1 helmets are multilayered, highly engineered helmets that help reduce impact forces and outrank competing helmet ratings in the NFL/NFLPA laboratory performance testing for 2018.

Local small business owner Louis Celaya looked into increasing the safety of his daughter, a junior varsity football player for Golden West High School, and in his research, found the VICIS ZERO1. The next step for Celaya was to find enough funding to equip the high school football teams.

During the spring, Don Groppetti of the Groppetti Automotive family visited Celaya’s shoe repair shop and the two struck up a conversation. Knowing Groppetti’s support for supporting local youth, Celaya asked if he’d like to fund the teams with the new helmets and he agreed.

This fall, the varsity student athletes on the football teams of Golden West, El Diamante, Mt. Whitney and Redwood High Schools will be wearing their new VCIS helmets, the same type that professional players on almost all of the NFL teams and over 100 college football teams wear. 

“We are excited to be able to bring increased safety to our athletes through the technology integrated into these new VICIS helmets,” Visalia Unified Superintendent Todd Oto, Ed.D, said. “This is another great example of the support Visalia Unified has long received from Groppetti Automotive and the Groppetti family. Mr. Groppetti is a great advocate for education and provides much support for increased achievement and opportunity for our students.”

According to the VICIS website, one VICIS ZERO1 helmet carries a cost of $950.