It was supposed to be a happy time in Laramie, Wyoming. It was graduation day: collegiate Cowboys were supposed to be graduating into real-life Cowboys (or whatever else their chosen profession might be). But there was a pal over the stadium on Saturday, after a member of the Wyoming swim team was found dead when War Memorial Stadium workers arrived at 6:45 AM to begin final preparations for the day’s graduation events.
No witnesses have come forward yet, but police say that it appears that senior David Schmitt fell through a narrow gap at the top of the stadium’s lower level while trying to climb to the stadium’s upper deck.
All entrances to the stadium were locked, as is standard procedure, and University officials are not positive how or why he was in the stadium (though, this observer thinks that it’s probably not an uncommon tradition for students to sneak into university football stadiums around the country as a pre-graduation ritual).
In a University press-release, University President Tom Buchanan said “We are shocked and saddened to learn of David’s death. The death of a student is always tragic, but it is even more difficult to comprehend on a day when the university is celebrating a new beginning for our graduating students. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.”
Schmitt was a versatile swimmer for the Wyoming Cowboys, who ranked 3rd in the Mountain West Conference last season. His primary stroke was breaststroke, but his highest finish at last year’s NCAA Championships was 14th in the 200 fly (1:52.12).
We here in Provo mourn the loss of David Schmitt. He was an outstanding young man and and a credit to the University of Wyoming Swimming program and the Mountain West Swimming community. Our prayers for comfort and support go out to David’s family and the University of Wyoming Swimming and Diving Teams.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, athletes, and coaches!