Region mourns as Jersey Shore student passes away
Trending
Jersey Shore Area School District informed the community Friday that Senior Max Engle, 17, passed away.
"We would like to begin by sharing our immense gratitude and appreciation for the love and support given to our family in this difficult time," the district said on social media. "The huge outpouring of thoughts and prayers have been of great comfort to us during this time. Max has been fighting hard throughout this week, but he needed to move on to fulfill a greater purpose."
Engle, a Bulldogs senior, collapsed during a timeout during Jersey Shore Area High School's recent game against Selinsgrove Area High School.
Trainers and EMTs worked on him for 10 minutes before he was evacuated by ambulance, the Daily Item of Sunbury reported. Led by Engle's teammate, Bulldogs fullback Tate Sechrist, both teams and coaches prayed together at midfield.
"Max was a warrior on the football field and fought hard to earn a place amongst his Brothers in Orange," his family posted on Saturday. "Our family feels immensely blessed to have spent 17 beautiful years with Max. It is difficult not to feel cheated, but we are trying to focus on how fortunate we are to have had him in our lives. He will be greatly missed every single day and we know he will be with us in everything we do. Although Max's next adventure is not what we thought, we know he is doing greater things than we had hoped for him."
Communities near and far came together in support of Engle throughout the week, WNEP.com reported, collecting donations, selling orange ribbons and t-shirts representing Engle's No. 4 and wearing the color orange.
During Friday night's games, Bald Eagle Area and Bellefonte asked fans to wear orange in an effort to support Max, the Centre Daily Times of State College reported.
"All we can do is support him, his family, the community and the football program," Bald Eagle Area Head Coach Jesse Nagle told the Centre Daily Times. "That's the least we can do."
Every school within Clinton County -- from Jersey Shore's own Avis Elementary, the Keystone Central School District, Walnut Street Christian School, Lock Haven Catholic School and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School -- wore orange to school to showcase their support for the player and his family, the Express of Lock Haven reported.
"There are truly no boundaries for community support of our neighbors when they are in need," said Keystone Central School District Superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Martin told the Express.
Schools in Shamokin, Athens, Mahanoy City, Ridgway, Canton and Milton were among others to show support.