When Winona State University (WSU) football player Shawn Afryl collapsed and died during a preseason conditioning session on July 21, 2014, the WSU community and family were initially consumed with the tragic circumstances associated with death of a 22-year-old young man,
Now the two sides are consumed with litigation.
Afryl’s mother, Susan Afryl, has claimed in a lawsuit that WSU failed to require her son to complete a medical exam before participating in team workouts, which she charged is a requirement by the NCAA. Had Afryl had the exam, she alleged, a heart condition called cardiomyopathy would likely have been detected and he would have been prevented from participating in the workout. Cardiomyopathy makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to all parts of the body.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, which is representing WSU issued the following statement: “At Winona State University, the health and safety of all students and student athletes is our top priority. Our athletics programs follow NCAA rules and guidelines as well as WSU policies and procedures, and we have a full-time athletic trainer who provides dedicated service and coverage for our student athletes. We are confident that all efforts are made to ensure and protect student safety at WSU.”
One twist associated with the story is that Afryl, who was 22, was a three-year member of the Illinois football team through 2012 when he earned his college degree. Afryl then took a year off before deciding to pursue his football career at WSU.
