Teammates, friends remember the life of Shawnee Mission Northwest teen

SHAWNEE, Kan. — Students gathered on the football field at Shawnee Mission Northwest to remember the life of Ovet Gomez Regalado.

The 15-year-old football player was transported to the hospital on Wednesday, where he passed away on Friday . Hundreds of people showed up on Saturday, carrying balloons and some flowers.

“You can tell that Ovet meant a lot to them,” said David Smith from the Shawnee Mission School District.

“This is hard, and young people really shouldn’t have to go through this. There was a lot of pain.”

As they released a balloon in the shape of a football, students tied their balloons to the fence near the field. Regalado’s teammates said he was a great football player.

“He was like a brother to me,” said Zion Scott.

“He taught me all I know about football. He taught me how to play and he taught me how to love the sport.”

“The thing that I heard people talk about again and again is his warmth and his smile and the way that he cared for other people,” Smith said about Regalado.

The teammates who spoke with FOX4 all echoed the same sentiment.

“He was just a good friend to be around. It means a lot in respect to his family, to us and to his teammates. For us, this is consoling and to celebrate his life.”

The school district said they are still investigating the incident.

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