A college wrestler from California has died in a tragic fall at Yosemite National Park, his coach has confirmed.
Santa Rosa Junior College’s Ryan George, a 19-year-old sophomore from the North Bay area, was hiking with friends near Illilouette Falls on Sunday when he slipped and fell, according to The Press Democrat, which first reported the news.
The Daily Mail has sought more information from park officials and the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department.
‘If you knew Ryan, you know he was one of the most genuine, positive people you could ever meet,’ Santa Rosa Junior College Coach Fred Duerr said in a statement. ‘He had this way of lighting up a room, making you feel welcome, and bringing out the best in everyone around him.
‘[He was always] smiling, always encouraging, always full of life. He was an amazing leader and wrestler, but more than that, he was an amazing human.
‘We love you and we will miss you so much, Ryan,’ the coach concluded. ‘Thank you for everything you gave us.’
Santa Rosa Junior College’s Ryan George, a 19-year-old sophomore from the North Bay area, was hiking with friends near Illilouette Falls on Sunday when he slipped and fell
Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park are seen in this photo. George was in another area of the park when he was said to have slipped and fell to his death in Sunday’s tragedy
George was an elite wrestler, earning All-American honors as a freshman and taking third place in the California Community College Athletic Association tournament.
His sister told The Press Democrat about his joy in discovering the sport.
‘It was good watching him find what he loved,’ Jaida George said. ‘Everyone knew. He was always playing and wrestling when he was a kid so when he started wrestling, everyone knew.
‘He really just loved to play,’ she said. ‘Literally, it just matches him. He was just so loving.’
If George had a weakness on the mat, it was his gregarious nature that inevitably led to friendships with opponents.
‘He wasn’t a natural competitor, he had to learn to compete,’ Ken Coburn, George’s high school coach, told The Press Democrat. ‘Even his competitors became friends with Ryan. He was a very respectful young man, very humble. Oftentimes he had to fake being cocky to build up his confidence.’
A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit George’s sister, Jaida, who also recently lost her mother, according to the post.
