Dear CoSIDA Membership:
College athletics provides us with many joyous, memorable moments. Unfortunately, like any other profession, we also must be faced with adversity and in some cases, tragedy.
Our hearts and prayers are with the North Central Texas College community after their
softball team was involved in a major accident in southern Oklahoma.
Four student-athletes - three sophomores and a freshman - passed away in this accident: Brooke Deckard (20) of Blue Ridge, Texas, Jaiden Pelton (20) of Telephone, Texas, Meagan Richardson (19) of Wylie, Texas and Katelynn Woodlee (18) of Windhom, Texas. Each of these players had been featured in local newspapers from their towns in North Texas, as stated on the NCTC website, “before and after their tragic deaths for their character and athletic skills.”
On behalf of CoSIDA, we have expressed our condolences to Director of Athletics & Head Softball Coach Van Hedrick and our thoughts are with the families and friends of these students and their teammates.
A vigil was held on the campus and further information will be provided and updated as available.
Each of us are touched by the lives of the student-athletes on our campuses. Please take a moment to pause to remember these students. Thank you.
- Eric McDowell
Union College (NY)
CoSIDA President