Wes Leonard
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High School Basketball Player Dies After Big Win
March 5, 2011
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Wes Leonard scored the game-winning basket to complete his team's undefeated season, but collapsed on the court soon after.
BY BARBARA MANINGAT AND JENNIFER MECKLES
Anchor: Megan Murphy
It's a heartbreaking story -- and one that still has people scratching their heads. A highschool basketball star, just 16 years old, scores the game-winning shot to end the perfect season -- then collapses on the court... and dies.
16-year-old Wes Leonard and the Blackhawks took the court against Bridgeman in a tight game. In overtime, Leonard scored the game-winning layup, and completed the team’s undefeated season. (Video: WOOD)
Immediately after the game, he collapsed on the court and bystanders rushed to help. He was soon rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest, and just a few hours later, pronounced dead. (The Holland Sentinel)
The first question every asked was -- how could this happen? The Detroit Free Press reported the medical examiner’s findings: the cardiac arrest brought on by dilated cardiomyopathy -- a condition that enlarges and weakens the heart. As everyone started to piece it together, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids reports Leonard had been feeling slightly sick recently:
And Babble reports -- Fennville is no stranger to sport-related tragedy.
“The eerie thing about this case is that Leonard is the second Fennville athlete to die from a sport related instance in 14 months. Wrestler Nathaniel Hernandez, 14, died in January of 2010 after suffering a seizure at home following his participation in a high school wrestling match.”
On CNN, a doctor explains -- any heart-straining activity can trigger a problem.
“So rowing, cycling, football, running...”
Dr. KEN MILTON: “Thats correct, pretty much anything where you’re going to be engage in the heart, that puts strain on the heart. But unfortunately, most of these kids -- they don't present with symptoms until the time of death.”
A writer for Fox calls for more in-depth medical examinations for high school athletes -- things like an EKG, a heart ultrasound, and a check on the family’s cardiac disease history. He says, these check-ups are vital because...
“...there are hidden clinical conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), cardiac arrhythmias and valvular abnormalities that may be present, but completely asymptomatic in a young person – and these conditions could have catastrophic effects on a child doing any kind of strenuous physical activity.”
In remembrance, the Holland Sentinel highlights his many talents -- in basketball and football. He racked up 1,000 points on the court and took the field as quarterback, leading the team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference North Division championship.
“Leonard was a two-sport standout at Fennville and arguably the Blackhawks’ greatest athlete since Richie Jordan, a member of the National Federation of State High Schools Association’s Hall of Fame.”
Leonard will be buried Tuesday in Holland, Michigan -- the day after his team-mates are scheduled to play their first playoff game.
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A terrible tragedy! But we can't do away with sports activities for young people. They will attempt to find fault, but I doubt that this could have been foreseen without extensive stress-testing which is not currently being done for otherwise healthy young people. Maybe I'm wrong and something can be done in the future to diagnose otherwise hidden cardiovascular problems for young athletes.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Oldsun