VANCOUVER, Wash. — The community of Skyview High School in Vancouver is mourning the unexpected loss of a student athlete, William "Liam" Sloan. He was a junior and a member of the football team.
Skyview Principal Andy Meyer revealed Sloan's death in a message to families late Friday morning. According to Meyer, Sloan passed of natural causes in his sleep.
"He was a junior this year and a valued member of our football team and learning community. He was a great friend, teammate and classmate to all who knew him and will be deeply missed," Meyer said. "Tragic events like this can be very difficult to process. We all have different reactions and emotions in these situations, and that is ok. What is important is that we respect and support one another and give both ourselves and our community grace as we process this grief."
Skyview would have staff and additional counseling support available for both students and staff in the school's career center, Meyer said.
"If you’d like to talk to someone, please come by the career center or talk to a trusted adult in the building. We will make sure someone checks in with you," Meyer continued. "Following a tragedy, it’s expected that our students may experience signs of grief. This may look like tearfulness, shock, withdrawal, and perhaps anger. It is important for those experiencing grief to talk about their feelings and to reach out to our admin or counseling team if you need support."
Skyview High School's football team memorialized Sloan in an Instagram post Friday, saying they'd lost one of their brothers.
Skyview High School's varsity football team plays at home against Richland High School on Saturday at 4 p.m.
KGW reporter Sydney Dorner spoke with Sloan's teammates just hours before they honored his life during the game. Friends described him as more than just a lineman; he was a hardworking student and a loyal friend.
Football players at Skyview High have faced their share of challenges this season, but Sloan's presence always uplifted them as a key part of their offensive line.
“He would always show excitement, big smile. I would throw a touchdown, and I’d go give everyone a high five, and he’d come up and just give me a big hug,” said Doogie Poindexter, a senior on the team.
The loss has left Sloan's teammates in shock. “It was definitely surreal and caught us all off guard,” said Rex Allinger, another player.
Coaches announced on social media Friday that he had died in his sleep, possibly from natural causes, despite appearing perfectly normal at practice the day before.
Aiden Sederstrom, who grew up with Sloan as a family friend and was his right-hand man on the field, shared his grief.
“It felt like a bad dream," Sederstrom said. "I remember showing it to my dad, and he sat there in silence for a long time.”
Around 200 members of the Vancouver community gathered for a candlelight vigil Friday to pay their respects to Sloan. Teammates vowed to play even harder in his memory.
“The intensity that he put in on an everyday basis will hopefully push our team to perform better throughout the year,” Allinger said.
The team plans to honor Sloan's life during Saturday’s game with a moment of silence.
“It won’t ever feel the same, it won’t ever feel right. It just feels like we’re going to miss the heart and soul of our football team,” Sederstrom said.