Ethan Dietz, a basketball player at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma, died Tuesday, three days after suffering an injury in the second half of his team’s game against Grayson College. Details about the injury were not disclosed in the school’s announcement, but a Connors State spokesperson said several sockets that Dietz, 20, suffered a head injury during the match.
‘The Cowboy family has suffered an unimaginable loss’ the school said in a statement. “As you know, sophomore Ethan Dietz was injured Saturday during a men’s basketball game. He passed away this morning, November 25. Ethan exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, to value hard work and to be part of a team. As the team and the Cowboy community deals with our own grief, our hearts go out to his family and friends.”
Dietz, a sophomore from Conway, Arkansasplayed 20 minutes before his injury on Saturday and scored six points and had four rebounds. The 6-foot-4 forward was a starter for the Cowboys, who averaged 11 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season. Dietz also started 29 of the Cowboys’ 36 games as a freshman last year.
“Ethan Dietz was the kind of player a coach always hopes for,” Connors State coach and athletic director Bill Muse said. “He was athletically and academically talented and he understood the importance of hard work. If you ever saw him smile, you knew he was all heart. He was a person of character and a great teammate. Our hearts and prayers remain with Ethan’s family, friends and our team as we cope with this heartbreaking loss.”
Connors State canceled upcoming games against Southern Arkansas University Tech on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and against Grayson College on Monday, Dec. 1, in the wake of the tragedy. The women’s basketball team also canceled its next two games.
“It is devastating to have such a bright light taken from us,” said Dr. Ron Ramming, president of Connors State. “Ethan exemplified what it means to be a cowboy, to value hard work and to be part of a team. As we process our own grief, our thoughts go out to his family, friends and teammates.”
Connors State will hold a vigil on campus in Dietz’s honor on Monday, December 1 at 7 p.m.
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