The excited mood while preparing for the high school football playoffs has become somber in Mentor after the death of a Cardinals player on Thursday. The team plays St. Edward tonight in Lakewood in the first round.
View full sizeThe Mentor football team is dealing with the death of teammate Brandon Shima as its prepares for tonight's playoff game in Lakewood against St. Edward.MENTOR, Ohio -- On Wednesday, music reverberated through Mentor High School's football locker room as the Cardinals prepared for the playoffs. Players joked back and forth, and some danced and sang the chorus to the optimistic song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
On Friday, there was no music. No dancing. No joking. The football team mourned the death of junior Brandon Shima while still prepping for tonight's rematch against St. Edward at Lakewood Stadium, which will be played as scheduled at 7 p.m.
Shima died Thursday at his home. The cause of death was natural, according to Lake County Coroner Lynn Smith. Shima had been home sick and was found in a bathtub around noon.
An autopsy was performed Friday morning by Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller. Smith said the death was not related to MRSA. Shima, 16, was being treated for MRSA more than a week ago but showed signs of healing.
The football locker room was sanitized as a precaution Thursday when school officials initially learned of Shima's death.
View full sizeCoaches say they will leave Brandon Shima's locker alone, which still has his equipment inside."[MRSA] was definitely ruled out," Smith said. "He had signs of minor abnormalities in his heart that were congenital, but it wasn't the cause of death. We've also ruled out drugs and suicide."
It was initially believed Shima died by slipping in the bathtub and hitting his head, but Smith said there were no signs of trauma.
Shima was a bright, well-liked player, according to coaches and teammates. He played mostly free safety on the junior varsity and got into two varsity games, making one tackle, according to Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno.
"He was a good kid. I'll remember he was always smiling," said fellow junior Kurt Laseak, a linebacker. "He wasn't the greatest football player, but he worked so hard. Every day, he loved coming in and busted his butt 100 percent on every play. He loved to play football.
"One of my biggest memories of him is that smile. Every time I think about him, I think about that smile."
Shima's red metal locker in a back corner still had his silver helmet hanging from a hook with shoulder pads, practice jersey and other equipment stuffed inside. "We'll leave it like that, just the way he left it," assistant coach Jim Funk said.
View full sizeBrandon Shima was well-liked by teammates, coaches say.Mentor High has experienced seven deaths since July 2005, including one other death this fall. Grief counselors were at the school once again Friday, and Trivisonno said the team gathered in an auxiliary gym and met with counselors.
Upon hearing of Shima's death after school Thursday, players met without coaches present and decided to continue practicing. As practice neared Friday, a couple players tried to lighten the mood by taping above the entrance motivational fortunes they found in fortune cookies.
"They're boys," Trivisonno said. "They're trying to deal with it the best they can. They're coping. We'll take it one step at a time. We'll bond together as a team and do the best we can."
Tonight, Mentor players will wear a helmet sticker with Shima's number, 38, and a moment of silence is planned prior to kickoff.
Smith said a final autopsy report will be completed in two to four months.
Plain Dealer reporter Pat Galbincea contributed to this story.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661