MENTOR, Ohio -- Lucas McGee, a freshman wrestler at Mentor High School, has died following a medical emergency, according to Mentor Public Schools.
School officials say the 14-year-old, who previously wrestled at Shore Middle School in Mentor, passed away in the hospital alongside his loved ones.
"Lucas will be remembered for his warm personality, kind spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering sense of humor that made him a wonderful friend and classmate. 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," said Mentor High School Principal John Fullerman and Superintendent Craig Heath in a joint statement.
According to a post from Mentor Wrestling, on Sept. 29, Lucas suffered a cardiac event during a conditioning practice.
He was life-flighted to a hospital, where he was sedated and underwent testing.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help with funeral and memorial expenses, unanticipated medical bills, and other immediate needs.
As of Friday at 11:53 a.m., the GoFundMe has raised $13,590.
The full letter sent to the Mentor school community can be read below:
Mentor High School parents/guardians and staff,
It is with extreme sadness we write you this letter. We learned this morning, our student Lucas McGee, passed away in the hospital surrounded by his loved ones. Lucas was 14 years old.
Lucas will be remembered for his warm personality, kind spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering sense of humor that made him a wonderful friend and classmate. 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, respectful, and full of life -- someone who led by example and faced every challenge with a positive attitude. He displayed grace and good sportsmanship, treated people well, and will always be known for lifting up everyone around him. Lucas will be greatly missed, and our deepest sympathy is with his family and friends.
We know this is a very difficult message for our students to hear. We are sharing this information with parents and guardians today so you can take the time to talk with your child in a way that feels appropriate for your family. A school-wide announcement will be made on Monday to ensure all students receive this news with care and support.
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. We will continue to provide these services as long as they're needed.
If you feel your child may not ask for help but would benefit from talking with someone, please feel free to contact us directly by phone at (440) 974-5300 or via email at fullerman@mentorschools.org.