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Sandy Creek wrestler dies
during practice

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Another tragedy has struck at Sandy Creek High School.
Sophomore wrestler David M. Ribeiro, 15, collapsed and died during wrestling practice Thursday afternoon.

According to Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, Public Information Specialist for the Fayette County Board of Education, coaches noticed Ribeiro looked fatigued and asked him to sit out. Ribeiro collapsed and coaches responded immediately, calling 9-1-1 and beginning CPR. Paramedics responded within four minutes, treating Ribeiro and transporting him to Piedmont Fayette Hospital where he later died.

The cause of death is unknown and an autopsy is expected to be performed.

“All athletes have to have a physical prior to participating in a school sanctioned sport,” said Berry-Dreisbach, who could not go into details of the physical, but stated that if there were anything on the physical indicating risk he would not have been allowed to participate in the sport.

According to Berry-Dreisbach, there is a defibrillator at the school but because it was apparent that Ribeiro needed immediate care, the coaches did not leave the student to get it.

There were close to 30 counselors on hand at the school on Friday to provide counseling to students and faculty members.

This was Ribeiro’s first year on the wrestling team. He was a member of the marching band last year and was a member of the Air Force Jr. ROTC this year.

Last year, Shelly Smitts, who was on the school’s swim team, died from a viral infection to her heart. In 2000, wrestler Kerry Ruffin was paralyzed during a wrestling meet.