15-Year-Old Connecticut Football Player Dies During Team Practice

A town in Connecticut is mourning the death of a high school football player who died on Tuesday after losing consciousness during practice.

15-Year-Old Connecticut Football Player Dies During Team Practice

According to school authorities, Elijah-Jay Mariano Rivera, a 15-year-old Windsor High School student and part of the football team, died after losing consciousness during an afternoon practice.

At the time of the event, Rivera was not participating in any football exercises or tackles.

He was brought to Hartford’s Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Police and medical professionals attempted to resuscitate Elijah-Jay Mariano Rivera, an eleventh-grade student at Windsor High School, but were unable.

“Very nice, a very funny kid, and just always brightened up whenever he walked into a room,” Windsor freshman Maria Tostarelli told the publication.

“They know as well that while they’re sad they’re not sad alone right now. They have each other and they’ll use those relationships and the spirit of who Elijah was to carry them through this,” Dr. Glenn Lungarini, the executive director of Connecticut’s Interscholastic Athletic Conference, said.

Rivera, nicknamed “Big Texas” by his teammates, had returned to Connecticut in June to focus on school and football, according to his mother, Chastity Hernandez, who spoke to Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Rivera enjoyed automobiles and sports, and his favourite NFL club was the Atlanta Falcons, according to Hernandez.

A candlelight vigil was conducted on the football field Tuesday night, and members of the Windsor football team stated they would dedicate the rest of the season to him and go onto the field wearing his jersey at their next home game.

 

 

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