Mentor High Mourns 14-Year-Old Athlete’s Death After Practice Collapse

Lucas McGee, a 14-year-old freshman wrestler at Mentor High School in Ohio, suffered a devastating medical emergency during a conditioning practice on September 30, 2025. Tragically, Lucas passed away on October 9, as announced by Mentor Public Schools.

Swift Response to Collapse

Lucas’s collapse prompted immediate action. His father, David McGee, told FOX 8 News: “The cross country coach noticed and immediately started CPR, while other people stood by and dialed 911 and from what I understand, there was a three-minute response time from the Mentor Fire Department.” He described the emotional moment: “I went down on my knees and I grabbed his feet with my hands and they were ice cold and I just started praying that God would intervene and they got his heart started again.” Lucas’s mother, Kristy McGee, added: “It was the scariest thing and one of the nurses or medical team members was on top of him doing the compressions.”

Underlying Health Concerns

Prior to the incident, Lucas had been unwell. David McGee shared with FOX 8 that his son "had a sore throat in the days leading up to the incident" and "tested positive for Rhinovirus." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that rhinoviruses are "the most frequent cause of the common cold and are a common viral trigger for asthma attacks". Doctors investigated potential causes, with David noting: “One of the possibilities is what’s called Myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle and is in response to a viral infection.”

Rhinovirus Risks Highlighted

The CDC explains that while "most rhinovirus infections are mild," they "can cause serious illness in higher-risk populations," potentially leading to severe conditions like "asthma attack and reactive airway disease (wheezing, difficulty breathing)" or "pneumonia (infection of the lungs)." The agency emphasizes that "there is no vaccine, treatment, or medicine to prevent or cure illness caused by rhinoviruses," underscoring the need for vigilance and preventive measures for other respiratory viruses.

Community Mourns a Bright Spirit

Mentor Public Schools shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, describing Lucas as having a "warm personality, kind spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering sense of humor that made him a wonderful friend and classmate." They added: “He was always smiling and happy, yet determined, hardworking, and willing to put in the extra effort to achieve his goals, both in the classroom and in athletics. His teachers describe him as driven, smart, kind, and respectful, someone who led by example and faced every challenge with a positive attitude.” The school also noted that Lucas "collapsed during conditioning practice on Sept. 29" and "had to be transported by an air ambulance to the main campus of the nearby Cleveland Clinic."

Family’s Heartbreak and Uncertainty

The McGee family endured immense fear during Lucas’s hospitalization. David McGee told FOX 8: “You know, as parents, my wife and I were terrified, obviously. This is painful and scary because you just don’t know.” Kristy McGee reflected on the additional concerns about brain damage due to oxygen loss: “When I learned all the other things that could be going on with his brain and they said this could be months and months, it was like it was worse than when I was watching them resuscitate him.”

Support for a Grieving Community

In response to the tragedy, Mentor Public Schools announced: “To assist students and staff in coping with the loss of Lucas, our school counselors and our school psychologist will be available to meet with students. Mental health professionals from the Lake County Trauma Response Team will also be at school on Monday to work with us to ensure any student who may be grieving receives proper attention.”

(Rh/Eth/VK)