College athlete tragically dies at 21 after | Sports News

A collegiate distance runner tragically handed away after collapsing at a meet in Louisiana earlier this month.

On April 24, 21-year-old Graycen Vargo was competing within the Red River Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships hosted by Xavier University when he suffered an undisclosed medical emergency. The junior at Texas A&M University-Texarkana was promptly given medical consideration earlier than being rushed to a native hospital, the place he died.

In an official assertion asserting the heartbreaking information, A&M-Texarkana president Dr. Ross Alexander wrote: “Our thoughts are with Graycen’s family, teammates, and friends as they deal with this unimaginable loss.

“Graycen was a respected member of the student body and a beloved member of the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams. His presence will be greatly missed by the entire university community.”

A&M-Texarkana athletic director Ryan Wall expressed a comparable sentiment, including: “On behalf of the Eagle athletic department, I want to convey our heartfelt sorrow at the loss of Graycen Vargo. Our prayers are with the Vargo family and everyone who knew Graycen as they go through this difficult time.”

Vargo was within the midst of his first season at A&M-Texarkana, having run at Jacksonville College during his freshman and sophomore years. Shortly earlier than his premature passing, the pc science main was given the Eagle Excellence Award for Cross Country during the college’s annual athletic awards ceremony.

The accolade is yearly bestowed to “student athletes who made a positive impact on campus, within their teams, and in the community while exemplifying strong character and academic excellence.”

Vargo’s high college alma mater, Village Tech, moreover launched a assertion offering condolences to his household. “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Village Tech alum Graycen Vargo, brother to Alyssa Vargo, Class of 2026,” the college wrote. “Graycen, a member of the Class of 2023, was part of our cross-country team and a founding student. Our prayers are with the Vargo family and all who knew Graycen. As a community, we share in this loss together.”

Taking to Facebook, Village Tech coach Ben Nicholas make clear the unbelievable traits that made Vargo one of his favourite scholar athletes. “I first met Graycen as an 8th grader when I was looking for athletes to run,” he recalled of the Dallas, Texas native. “What I found, though, was the most fiercely competitive, determined and loyal teammate.

“He would challenge you and demand your best, while totally committing to winning together. I had the joy of working with him for [five] years, and the honor of watching him grow beyond high school and compete collegiately. Graycen became so interwoven in our lives, constantly checking in with those he cared about.

“Of course, we still talked about running, but as Graycen grew up he took interest in the well-being of my daughter, his teammates, and the team he desperately wanted to give back to, his friends that went off to college all over Texas and Arkansas, and though he’d never admit it, he took special interest in looking after his sister.

“In his own way, he was constantly making sure that she was training right, but more importantly, that she was taken care of,” Nicholas concluded. “Graycen, you are a legend. I love you so much, I am so proud of you, and so grateful for you.”