Texas College Football Player Dies During Pickup Basketball Game
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Texas College Football Player Dies During Pickup Basketball Game
Swirczynski , austin, college, football, dies
A 20-year-old college football player has died after he collapsed during a pickup basketball game, school officials confirmed Tuesday.
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SHERMAN, Texas (February 10, 2009)--An Austin College football player died after collapsing during a pickup basketball game on the school's Sherman campus, school officials confirmed Tuesday.

Zach Swirczynski died Monday a short time after going through an offseason football workout.

The 20-year-old player’s death was confirmed Tuesday by Austin College Sports Information Director Jeff Kelly.

Austin College linebacker Scooter Means told the Sherman Herald Democrat that he had just arrived at the gym when Swirczynski collapsed between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Swirczynski was taken to a Sherman hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Swirczynski, who was from Muenster,, was a 5-foot-8, 215-pound sophomore linebacker for Austin College, a non-scholarship NCAA Division III school.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Muenster on Feb 15, 2009 at 08:51 PM

Get off it everybody. His friends at Austin College are AMAZING people he died from an aneurysm meaning NOTHING could have stopped it. Why do people assume the worst? He was one of my Best Friends I miss him dearly but its a shame that some people are using his death to get on a soapbox. I Love You Zach if anybody has something else theyd like to say other than love and support for his family and friends KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. DO NOT BLAME ANYBODY. I am a better person because I knew Zach and maybe all you people that are pointing fingers could be too if yall just knew the guy. As for the other students the guys did all they could to revive him, CPR, athletic trainer, ambulance they loved him, he was their teamate, friend and brother. I Love You Zach youll always be in my heart
Posted by: Wag Location: Sherman on Feb 13, 2009 at 07:59 PM

I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED ON MONDAY. Me and Zach were guarding each the entire pick-up basketball game. He showed no signs of fatigue, he wasn't even out of breath. We weren't even playin hard. Everybody was just outta kind of messing around. Nothing serious. When he collapsed no one knew what was going. We thought he was having seizure nothing more. We turned him so he could breathe. We DID ALL WE COULD TO HELP HIM. So before you ask why no one got arrested, just know all of us there had to watch one of our good friends pass away in front of our eyes. PS - Zach had gone through a football offseason work out at 7 am that morning and we were playing basketball at 5:30 pm.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Feb 13, 2009 at 09:36 AM

I really wish that people did not make asinine assumptions about things like this. Zach was a GREAT person that will truly be missed by all those that had the opportunity to know him. I know that I am a better person for having known Zach. He will be greatly missed at Austin College. My thoughts and prayers go out to Zach's family, friends, and teammates. I know that Zach is looking down and protecting us all right now. Rest in peace Zach! We love you!
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