This happened two days ago....

Dedication:

DeafSportZine dedicates this edition to Shawn Benjamin Slater
who is not deaf.

He was a member of the Portersville Christian School soccer
team that had a fierce game against Western Pennsylvania
School for the Deaf, a battle which lasted into overtime.

The game was a 3-3 tie and it continued right through 2nd overtime.
Shawn, who was Portersville's best player, went to the bench
to take a rest with 8:32 remaining in the 2nd overtime. Suddenly
he collapsed, could not breathe. A nurse from Western Pennsylvania
School, who was watching the game, ran to him and tried to revive
him. An ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital
where he died.

The game was stopped. No one wanted to play any more.

The Western Pennsylvania team will be wearing something on their
uniforms to honor the memory of Shane.

Incidentally Western Pennsylvania had a game scheduled next day.
The players had a choice to play or to cancel and they decided
to play. They have dedicated today's game to him (details to
be provided in tomorrow's edition)

Said Don Rhoten, the Western Pennsylvania superintendent, said:

As a parent, I can only imagine what the Slater family is going
through. As a head of a school, I realize how difficult this is
for Portersville Christian. Please keep them in your thoughts
during this difficult time.

B. Strassler