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College wrestler Ryan George has died after slipping and falling during a hike at Yosemite National Park’s Illilouette Falls on Sunday, September 20. The Santa Rose Junior College freshman was 19.
“If you knew Ryan, you know he was one of the most genuine, positive people you could ever meet,” Santa Rosa Junior College wrestling coach Fred Duerr said in a statement. “He had this way of lighting up a room, making you feel welcome, and bringing out the best in everyone around him.”
No further information was available regarding the accident itself, as of Thursday, September 24.
George last competed two days before his death, on Friday, September 18, when he placed second at the Dave Pacheco Invitational meet at Sacramento City College. His team placed fourth overall.
George’s death comes just weeks after his mom, Taji, also died. His father died while he was an infant and he is survived by his sister, Jaida.
“She is grieving the loss of two people she loves deeply, while also facing all that comes with losing family members so unexpectedly,” a GoFundMe page set up for Jaida reads.
The description also said that Jaida has a two-month-old son.
Jaida remembered her brother as a natural athlete and told the Press Democrat that she treasured watching him compete.
“It was good watching him find what he loved,” she said. “Everyone knew. He was always playing and wrestling when he was a kid so when he started wrestling, everyone knew.”
She continued, “He really just loved to play. Literally, it just matches him. He was just so loving.”
“His energy was infectious,” Duerr added. “I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile on his face. Really just bringing everybody up. I don’t think I ever heard him talk [negatively] about anything, even the grueling workouts we put him through.”
George was thinking of studying to become a firefighter, according to the Press Democrat, and was also hoping to eventually compete at a four-year university. Duerr said that if George was interested, he may have had a career in coaching.
“He listened, he answered questions and applied what we were teaching him,” he said. “He was so willing to learn. You don’t find that trait often in higher-level athletes. A lot of time they are stuck in their ways or techniques. He believed in coaching in general and teaching in general.”
Duerr added, “He had coaching blood in him. He had that teacher thing in him.”
