Winona State Football Player Dies During Workout

Aspiring high school teacher and football player Shawn Afryl, 22, died this Monday in what was an apparent collapse due to cardiac arrest during a voluntary practice field workout.

"A former University of Illinois football player hoping to play his final collegiate seasons at Winona State University collapsed and died Monday night at the Minnesota school.

Shawn Afryl, 22, was taking part in a voluntary strength and conditioning workout on a practice field Monday evening when he collapsed, according to Winona State associate head coach Cameron Keller. Keller said school officials had not been told a cause of death, but Afryl’s ex-high school coach, Curtis Tate, told the Chicago Tribune he died from cardiac arrest. He spent Tuesday with Afryl’s family, the paper said.

Keller said no coaches were present, because of NCAA rules. But the program’s strength and conditioning instructors were present, and administered CPR until paramedics arrived, the coach said. He said the conditioning staff members are trained in CPR."

Read the whole story from Star Tribune here >>