The University of Arizona has announced a Celebration of Life & Candle Light Vigil for former swimmer Ty Wells, who died on January 27 from complications of a severe strep infection. He was 23.
The Celebration and Vigil will be held on April 15, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 PM Mountain Time at the University of Arizona’s Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. RSVPs can be made here.
All attendees will be given a candle as part of the ceremony.
Wells was in his fifth year on the team at Arizona and was majoring in physiology with plans to pursue a career in physical therapy or sports medicine.
A native of Ripon, California, Wells was a 2021-2022 CSCAA Scholar All-American. Last season, Wells finished 12th in the 100 breaststroke at the Pac-12 Championship meet.
While his only NCAA meet of the fall semester was Arizona’s intrasquad, his last competition was the 2022 US Open Championships, where he finished in 50th place in both the 100 breast and 200 breast.
As a senior at Ripon High School in 2018, he qualified for the California High School State Championship meet, where he finished 13th in the 100 yard breaststroke.
A first Celebration of Life and Candlelight Vigil was held at his home pool at Ripon High School in California last Saturday.
After his death, tributes from Wells’ friends, family, and teammates poured out across social media. A few of those posts are below:
