hcma
03-01-2005, 10:53 AM
Copyright 2005 The Austin American Statesman
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
February 26, 2005 Saturday
SECTION: METRO/STATE; Pg. B1
LENGTH: 714 words
HEADLINE: Lake Travis player dies in soccer game;
17-year-old suffered from congenital heart disease, examiner says
BYLINE: M.B. Taboada, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
BODY:
A 17-year-old Lake Travis High School student died of heart failure Thursday
night during a soccer game.
Edgar Moran, a junior, collapsed at about 9 p.m. during the varsity team's
home game against Lockhart High School, said Lake Travis district Superintendent
Rocky Kirk.
Moran died of congenital heart failure, according to an autopsy performed by
the Travis County medical examiner's office.
Congenital heart disease typically means there is a structural heart defect
from birth. In Moran's case, his heart was enlarged and there was thickening of
the heart muscle, said Travis County Medical Examiner Roberto Bayardo.
During Thursday's game, Moran's and another player's feet become entangled as
they ran down the field, and both students fell, Kirk said. Moran got up to
prepare for a penalty kick, then collapsed, he said.
Athletic trainer Johnny Gonzalez attempted to revive Moran using CPR and a
defibrillator, Kirk said. EMS paramedics arrived within minutes, Kirk said, and
worked on Moran for more than 30 minutes.
"Ultimately, EMS staff, following their medical procedures and protocols,
determined that despite their best efforts and those of district personnel we
had lost the most precious of all things, the life of the student," Kirk said.
Roger Wade, spokesman for the Travis County sheriff's department, said his
agency was investigating the incident.
The rest of the soccer game was suspended.
The Lake Travis district requires students to have physicals before
participating in any school sport, said Athletic Director Jack Moss. In
addition, Central Texas districts, including Lake Travis, offer free heart scans
to interested students through the Championship Hearts program.
Most Lake Travis athletes, including Moran, did not choose to get a heart
scan, Moss said.
Nearly 3,000 students have been screened since 2001, said Susan Duke, Austin
Heart Foundation executive director.
The screening is designed to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or
thickening of the heart muscle. It occurs without cause, and typically there are
no warning signs, although Moran's disease likely could have been detected by a
heart scan, Bayardo said.
The mood on the Lake Travis campus was somber Friday as teachers and grief
counselors spoke to students about Moran's death. Moss cried at a morning news
conference in which he, Kirk and the school's principal described Thursday night
's events.
Students mourned, people left flowers at the soccer field where Moran died,
and the school's flags flew at half-staff. Students approached Kirk with
fund-raising ideas to help the family cover funeral costs.
Moran, whom Kirk described as well-loved by other students, was the soccer
student of the month. He had been playing for the school since he was a
freshman.
"Soccer was one of the most important things to Edgar," said Charlie Little,
high school principal.
Moran also was going to be the football team's kicker this fall.
Moran's family declined to comment.
A community memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at Emmaus Catholic
Church, 1718 Lohmans Crossing Road in Lakeway.
In addition, the district has established the Edgar Moran Memorial Fund at
Prosperity Bank, 1415 RM 620. For more information, contact Dala Campbell, vice
president of Prosperity Bank, at 261-1122. Donations also may be dropped off at
the high school at 3324 RM 620. A school district employee is the signatory on
the account, officials said.
Moran is the second Lake Travis High soccer player to die in just over two
years. Rachel Ann Maurer died New Year's Eve 2002, five days after she fell off
the back of a slow-moving car and injured her head.
mtaboada@statesman.com; 249-7053
(box)
Free heart screenings
Championship Hearts, a project of the Austin Heart Foundation, offers free
heart screenings throughout the year to athletes, band members and cheerleaders,
ages 15 to 18.
The next heart screening is from 8 a.m. to noon today in the Bowie High
School band room, 4103 Slaughter Lane. To be screened, students must be
accompanied by an adult or bring in a signed parental consent form. A $15
screening donation is suggested.
For more information or to learn future screening dates, call the
Championship Hearts hot line at 206-3669 or visit www.austinheartfoundation.
com.
GRAPHIC: A bouquet of flowers was placed on the Lake Travis High School soccer
field Friday in honor of soccer player Edgar Moran, who died Thursday night
during a game.
Rocky Kirk
Jack Moss: District's superintendent, left, and athletic director discussed
death of Lake Travis player.
LOAD-DATE: February 26, 2005
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
February 26, 2005 Saturday
SECTION: METRO/STATE; Pg. B1
LENGTH: 714 words
HEADLINE: Lake Travis player dies in soccer game;
17-year-old suffered from congenital heart disease, examiner says
BYLINE: M.B. Taboada, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
BODY:
A 17-year-old Lake Travis High School student died of heart failure Thursday
night during a soccer game.
Edgar Moran, a junior, collapsed at about 9 p.m. during the varsity team's
home game against Lockhart High School, said Lake Travis district Superintendent
Rocky Kirk.
Moran died of congenital heart failure, according to an autopsy performed by
the Travis County medical examiner's office.
Congenital heart disease typically means there is a structural heart defect
from birth. In Moran's case, his heart was enlarged and there was thickening of
the heart muscle, said Travis County Medical Examiner Roberto Bayardo.
During Thursday's game, Moran's and another player's feet become entangled as
they ran down the field, and both students fell, Kirk said. Moran got up to
prepare for a penalty kick, then collapsed, he said.
Athletic trainer Johnny Gonzalez attempted to revive Moran using CPR and a
defibrillator, Kirk said. EMS paramedics arrived within minutes, Kirk said, and
worked on Moran for more than 30 minutes.
"Ultimately, EMS staff, following their medical procedures and protocols,
determined that despite their best efforts and those of district personnel we
had lost the most precious of all things, the life of the student," Kirk said.
Roger Wade, spokesman for the Travis County sheriff's department, said his
agency was investigating the incident.
The rest of the soccer game was suspended.
The Lake Travis district requires students to have physicals before
participating in any school sport, said Athletic Director Jack Moss. In
addition, Central Texas districts, including Lake Travis, offer free heart scans
to interested students through the Championship Hearts program.
Most Lake Travis athletes, including Moran, did not choose to get a heart
scan, Moss said.
Nearly 3,000 students have been screened since 2001, said Susan Duke, Austin
Heart Foundation executive director.
The screening is designed to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or
thickening of the heart muscle. It occurs without cause, and typically there are
no warning signs, although Moran's disease likely could have been detected by a
heart scan, Bayardo said.
The mood on the Lake Travis campus was somber Friday as teachers and grief
counselors spoke to students about Moran's death. Moss cried at a morning news
conference in which he, Kirk and the school's principal described Thursday night
's events.
Students mourned, people left flowers at the soccer field where Moran died,
and the school's flags flew at half-staff. Students approached Kirk with
fund-raising ideas to help the family cover funeral costs.
Moran, whom Kirk described as well-loved by other students, was the soccer
student of the month. He had been playing for the school since he was a
freshman.
"Soccer was one of the most important things to Edgar," said Charlie Little,
high school principal.
Moran also was going to be the football team's kicker this fall.
Moran's family declined to comment.
A community memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at Emmaus Catholic
Church, 1718 Lohmans Crossing Road in Lakeway.
In addition, the district has established the Edgar Moran Memorial Fund at
Prosperity Bank, 1415 RM 620. For more information, contact Dala Campbell, vice
president of Prosperity Bank, at 261-1122. Donations also may be dropped off at
the high school at 3324 RM 620. A school district employee is the signatory on
the account, officials said.
Moran is the second Lake Travis High soccer player to die in just over two
years. Rachel Ann Maurer died New Year's Eve 2002, five days after she fell off
the back of a slow-moving car and injured her head.
mtaboada@statesman.com; 249-7053
(box)
Free heart screenings
Championship Hearts, a project of the Austin Heart Foundation, offers free
heart screenings throughout the year to athletes, band members and cheerleaders,
ages 15 to 18.
The next heart screening is from 8 a.m. to noon today in the Bowie High
School band room, 4103 Slaughter Lane. To be screened, students must be
accompanied by an adult or bring in a signed parental consent form. A $15
screening donation is suggested.
For more information or to learn future screening dates, call the
Championship Hearts hot line at 206-3669 or visit www.austinheartfoundation.
com.
GRAPHIC: A bouquet of flowers was placed on the Lake Travis High School soccer
field Friday in honor of soccer player Edgar Moran, who died Thursday night
during a game.
Rocky Kirk
Jack Moss: District's superintendent, left, and athletic director discussed
death of Lake Travis player.
LOAD-DATE: February 26, 2005