By John Wendt
As reported earlier Grant Brace was a wrestler at the University of the Cumberlands who passed away on August 31, 2020, during or after the first wrestling practice of the year.[1] The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s office ruled that Brace died of exertional heat stroke.[2] At the time of Grant’s passing the University issued a press release stating, “The Whitley County Coroner’s office is in the very early stages of its review, but there is no indication at this time to suspect that Brace’s death was related to anything other than natural causes.”[3]
Approximately a year later Grant’s parents, Kyle and Jacqueline Brace filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the University of the Cumberlands, The Cumberland Foundation, Inc., Cumberland Athletics Properties, Inc., University President Dr. Larry Cockrum, Athletic Director Chris Kraftick, and coaches Jordan Countryman and Jake Sinkovics alleging that Grant died during or directly after wrestling practice.[4] The complaint alleged that Grant passed from exertional heat-stroke due to the negligence and gross negligence by head coach Countryman and assistant coach Sinkovics (neither are still at Cumberlands).
To recap, according to the complaint, Brace was diagnosed with ADHD and narcolepsy and his physicians prescribed Adderall to help Brace focus and it was “critical” that he maintain hydration while using Adderall. Prior to enrolling at Cumberlands, Brace and his family were assured by the administration including Coach Countryman, that appropriate accommodations would be made regarding his medical condition and hydration needs. The complaint also alleged that the coaches created a toxic atmosphere “of fear and intimidation… through emotional manipulation, emotional abuse, and physical abuse of student-athletes.” This included a constant refrain that “water is for the weak” and when Brace requested a water break, they refused and commented, “Do you think you are special and are allowed more water?”
As to the day of Grant’s passing, the complaint alleged that after a summer break period of inactivity the wrestling team began with a track practice and the coaches forced the student-athletes to sprint and down a “Punishment Hill” seven times because a student-athlete failed a fundraising assignment. The complaint also alleged that there was no athletic trainer present and that the coaches knew that the same “Punishment Hill” practice after inactivity had caused significant injuries to a different wrestler just one year previously.
The complaint continues to allege that while Brace completed several circuits, he eventually sat down exhausted whereupon Coach Countryman told Brace that he was off the team. While Brace ran to the top of the hill and said, “I’m done. I can’t do this anymore” the coaches, despite objections and warnings about Brace’s health, kept pushing Brace to finish the punishment circuits. When they returned the wrestling room when Brace laid on the mat asking for water the coaches refused to let the other players render aid and told Brace to “get the water himself.”
Finally, the complaint alleged that Brace, suffering from heat stroke continually asked for water and begging said, “[P]lease help me, you promised you would help me.” Yet, the coaches refused and failed to contact the trainer or emergency medical personnel. Even after Brace began to speak and act in a nonsensical manner, consistent with the recognizable signs of heat stroke. But instead of addressing this medical emergency, the coaches yelled him to leave the room and they did not follow Brace. Brace frantically looked for water but the buildings on campus were locked and the water fountains did not work. He collapsed and died. After more than 45 minutes the coaches began to look for Brace and found him dead. (The attorneys for the Brace family recently released a video showing Grant, shirtless and in distress trying to open doors in search of water.[5])
The Williamsburg Police Department interviewed more than 40 members of the wrestling team that were at the first day of practice. The police reported that during the team’s practice, they were told to “throw their water bottles on the fence and not touch them.” The witnesses also stated that Brace said, “Guys, I need water. Get me some water…” Some witnesses claimed they also heard Brace state his pupils were twitching and he couldn’t see. Finally, one witness stated that they “attempted to wrap ice in a towel and place it on Brace when he was stopped by the coach because Brace didn’t perform well on the hill.”[6]
The University responded to the complaint by stating, “In the wake of this tragedy, the University has tried its best to be sympathetic and respectful to Grant’s family and to ensure that all of its athletic programs, including the wrestling program, were and are being operated in a safe manner…” The University also questioned several of the allegations in the complaint and “does not feel that the complaint is a fair reflection of its wrestling program.”[7]
On March 18, 2023, the University of the Cumberlands agreed to pay $14 million to settle the lawsuit brought by the Braces. James Moncus, an attorney for the Braces said that the family was “was relieved and very satisfied” that the university had been held accountable, and that “The amount of money paid clearly sends a message about the level of wrongdoing, not only by the coaches, but the university itself…” The University stated that it wanted to avoid a “long, difficult and costly” court process but still believed it could defend itself against the claims made by the family in their lawsuit. Jerry Jackson, Cumberlands Chancellor said, “Our University community continues to mourn his untimely loss…We sincerely hope that resolving this matter early in the legal process will offer the Brace family a measure of peace and healing.”[8] They also stated that “The University made the decision to settle the case now in a manner it hopes will respect the Brace family’s tremendous loss…”[9]
The University also agreed as part of the settlement to participate in a heat-illness training program and promotion of the Brace family’s work to raise awareness of heat-related injuries. [10] The University went on to state that “The safety of the University’s students and athletes has been and always will be the top priority of the University…As it has in the past, the University will continue to ensure that its athletic department protocols, including those addressing heat-illness, remain aligned with NAIA standards. The University welcomes the opportunity to work with the Brace family’s consultant to ensure it is providing the safest environment possible for student-athletes in all sports.”[11]
[1] John Wendt, University of the Cumberlands Sued for Wrestler’s Death – Brace v. Cumberlands, (2021), https://sportslitigationalert.com/university-of-the-cumberlands-sued-for-wrestlers-death-brace-v-cumberlands/ (last visited Mar 19, 2023).
[2] Eric Gerhardt & Stephanie Kuzydym, College wrestler dies from heat stroke during practice after begging for water, police say, KATV (2022), https://katv.com/news/nation-world/college-wrestler-dies-during-practice-from-heat-stroke-after-begging-for-water-police-say-wrestling-athlete-wrongful-death-lawsuit-kentucky-university-of-cumberlands-heat-stroke (last visited Mar 20, 2023).
[3] University of the Cumberlands, Cumberlands mourns the loss of student-athlete Grant Brace, University of the Cumberlands (2020), https://www.ucumberlands.edu/news/cumberlands-mourns-loss-student-athlete-grant-brace (last visited Mar 20, 2023).
[4] Brace v. University of the Cumberlands, https://www.scribd.com/document/521973173/Complaint-f-1#.
[5] ABC News, Video Attorney of Grant Brace’s family releases surveillance video, ABC News (2023), https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/attorney-grant-braces-family-releases-surveillance-video-97977137 (last visited Mar 20, 2023).
[6] Gerhardt and Kuzydym, supra note 2.
[7] Tabatha Wethal, Suit: Coaches Ignored Dying Wrestler’s Pleas for Water, Athletic Business (2021), https://www.athleticbusiness.com/operations/safety-security/article/15139854/suit-coaches-ignored-dying-wrestlers-pleas-for-water (last visited Mar 20, 2023).
[8] Amanda Holpuch, University to Pay $14 Million After a Wrestler’s Heat Stroke Death, (2023), https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/kentucky-university-wrestler-settlement.html (last visited Mar 20, 2023).
[9] Em Nguyen, Parents speak out after wrestler dies of heat stroke after begging for water: “They didn’t care,” ABC11 Raleigh-Durham (2023), https://abc11.com/grant-brace-death-coach-coaches-fired/12978858/ (last visited Mar 19, 2023).
[10] Monica Kast, University of the Cumberlands reaches $14M settlement in student wrestler’s death, Lexington Herald Leader (2023), https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article273187990.html (last visited Mar 19, 2023).
[11] Id.
