Tarleton football mourns passing of Alex Sanchez

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State University, the Texan Football program, and the Stephenville community suffered a tragic loss Sunday with the passing of senior wide receiver Alex Sanchez.
 
Sanchez was involved in a two-car collision on US-281 early Sunday morning. Both drivers were pronounced dead on the scene, according to multiple media reports.
 
"Our players, coaches, and our families are deeply saddened by the loss of Alex," said head coachTodd Whitten. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex's family and friends, as well as the family of Lyle Thomas Hussong (the other driver). We certainly would like to extend our prayers to his family during this tragic time.
 
"Alex was a special guy within our program," Whitten added. "He was truly loved within the Texan Football program and we will miss him terribly."
 
He came to Tarleton in the fall of 2013 from Stephenville High School, where he was a part of the 2012 Stephenville 3A Division II State Championship team. He was a two-time all-district selection during his time as a Yellow Jacket.
 
After receiving his high school degree from Stephenville, Sanchez continued his athletic career in his hometown by donning the Purple and White of Tarleton. He played in over 20 games for Tarleton in his career as a wide receiver and on several special teams. He made his first career catch on Nov. 8, 2014 with a 25-yard reception against Midwestern State and was a key contributor on special teams during Tarleton's Lone Star Conference Championship season in 2013.
 
Sanchez was coming off a junior season that saw him compete in seven games for the Texans and haul in six passes for 52 yards, as well as make two solo tackles on the special teams unit. Sanchez was expected to have a breakout senior season after shining during spring workouts under head coach Todd Whitten.
 
Arrangements are not yet known, but stay tuned to TarletonSports.com or follow Tarleton Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/TarletonAthletics) or on Twitter (@TarletonSports) for details in the coming days.



Two dead in fiery crash on US 281 overnight - The Flash Today
ERATH COUNTY (June 26, 2016) – The Tarleton and Stephenville communities are grieving Sunday morning as news broke that the Tarleton Texan football team has lost another member.

Stephenville High School (class of ’13) grad Alex Sanchez was killed when his 2014 Chrysler 300 crossed the center lane and struck a 1997 Ford pickup. The crash also killed Lyle Thomas Hussong, 26, also of Stephenville.

According to Sr. Texas DPS Trooper and PIO Dub Gillum, around 2 a.m. Sanchez’ car was traveling northbound on US 281 near mile point 314 when he drove on the wrong side of the highway, not passing, and struck the pickup driven by Hussong. Gillum said the pickup was actually on the southbound shoulder when it was struck and flipped, landing upside-down. He also reported the Chrysler caught fire and burned.

Several Erath County fire departments responded along with Erath County EMS, Cross Timbers First Responders and others.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. US Highway 281 was closed for approximately three hours as DPS investigated. Hussong has a Stephenville address, but Gillum said he was from Ohio.

OPSU Suffers the Loss of Student Athlete Over Memorial Day Weekend

By Justine Gaskamp on 06/01/2016
Goodwell, Okla.—The thoughts and prayers of the entire Oklahoma Panhandle State University community remain with the friends and family of James Cameron III, who was lost in a tragic swimming accident at Carolina Beach, N.C. over the holiday weekend.

According to a news release from the Carolina Beach Police Department on May 28, police and fire crews responded to a call about a swimmer in distress Saturday evening just before 8 p.m. Cameron was swimming with family when he went missing in the rough waters. Strong riptides and undercurrents produced by Tropical Storm Bonnie are presumed to be the cause for Cameron’s disappearance.

Air, land and water crews including teams from the U.S. Coast Guard maintained searches for the missing swimmer through Tuesday evening when the body was recovered and positively identified by next of kin. OPSU President Dr. Tim Faltyn commented on the tragedy, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own Panhandle family members. We are a tight-knit campus and the effects of this loss will be far-reaching, as James was known and loved by many. Our hope moving forward is to honor this young man’s life and to be there for the entire Cameron family through this very difficult time.”

Cameron, a running back for the Aggie football team, had just completed his junior year at OPSU and was visiting family in North Carolina. News of the 21 year-old’s disappearance spread quickly through the OPSU community. He was revered by the many students and staff who knew him; the vibrant and energetic young man was rarely seen without an infectious and heartwarming smile on his face.

Head Football Coach Russell Gaskamp was hit hard with the loss of his player, “Our team is absolutely distraught with the news, and James will be missed immensely. Our team foundation is ‘Strength, Unity, and Family’ and we will have to lean on and take care of each other now more than ever.” Gaskamp continued, “During his three years at OPSU James matured and grew on the field, in the community and in the classroom, making the Presidential Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) in the fall. He was also a member of our Leadership Council and by far one of the most popular and magnetic personalities on the team. We loved James very much. Please join us in prayer for his family.”

Information about funeral arrangements and memorial services will be announced as they are received by the campus communications offices. A full press release from the Wilmington Star News can be found at http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20160531/ARTICLES/160539940/1177?Title=Body-found-on-Kure-beach-identified-as-missing-swimmer