College of Northern Iowa soccer star Parker Sutherland died on Saturday, February 14. He was 18.
“It’s a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics household with the passing of our Parker Sutherland,” the faculty’s director of athletics, Megan Franklinwrote in a assertion launched by the college on Saturday. “He embraced the chance to play Panther soccer and signify the College by way of sport.”
Franklin continued, “We’re devastated — simply devastated. The blessing is that now we have a Panther household who will maintain the Sutherland household, our soccer group, and our athletics workers shut as we grieve.”
Sutherland, who’s survived by his mother and father and sister Georgia, had appeared in 4 UNI video games as a good finish throughout his 2025 freshman season.
“I’m heartbroken. No phrases can categorical my condolences to (his mother and father) Adam (and) Jill and Georgia,” UNI head coach Todd Stepsis mentioned in an announcement of his personal. “Parker embodied every thing we search for in a UNI Soccer Panther. His expertise and potential excited us each day, nevertheless it failed to match to the kind of particular person and teammate he was.”
Stepsis additional praised Sutherland’s character traits off of the gridiron.
“His character, humility, toughness and real love of others are what champions are made from,” the coach famous. “Whereas I’m saddened that our time collectively was brief, we are going to have fun the intense mild that he dropped at our soccer group for the remainder of our lives.”
A reason behind loss of life for Sutherland has not been publicly shared, although native outlet KCRG reported that cops had “responded to the varsity’s soccer advanced” shortly earlier than his loss of life.
Within the hours previous his loss of life, the Panthers soccer group honored Sutherland’s reminiscence throughout their Saturday night time recreation.
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“We pause at the moment to honor Parker Sutherland,” an announcer mentioned in the course of the sport. “(He was) a teammate, a pal and a proud member of the UNI soccer household.”
Sutherland’s loss of life was stunning for a lot of of his friends, who recalled seeing the coed athlete smiling simply days earlier.
“Passing him within the hallways and seeing his pleasant face and simply saying ‘hello,’” fellow first-year pupil Natalia Flack instructed KCRG. “It was actually arduous. I couldn’t imagine it. I had simply seen him on Wednesday and he was smiling, comfortable consuming, like he at all times is. And only a couple days later, he was gone. It’s simply surreal.”
In line with Flack, the soccer group’s second of silence on Saturday was particularly shifting.
“It was simply loopy seeing his face on that display,” she mentioned. “That’s any individual I’ve talked to virtually each single day since being right here, and it was actually particular. He beloved this campus. He beloved the Panthers, and I’m simply glad that we’re at all times going to recollect him as any individual who fought to be right here and deserved every thing.”
Sutherland and Flack had each graduated from Iowa Metropolis Excessive Faculty final yr.
“This loss is heartbreaking, and we all know it’s going to impression many in our group,” the Iowa Metropolis Excessive principal instructed the outlet. “We lengthen our deepest condolences to Parker’s household, pals, and all who knew and beloved him.”