Pocatello, Idaho high school sophomore Marlee Echohawk was hoping to medal at the state high school track meet this week in Boise.
Last year Marlee medaled in the 100m and 200m races at the state meet.
But her hopes changed on Saturday night when she and two other girls were injured when a boy unintentionally discharged a 20 gauge shotgun during a pre-prom group date.
http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/article_9ddc9bec-8059-11e0-998c-001cc4c002e0.html
Former Patrick Henry athlete is killed by car in California
Every time he reached a birthday in his life of outdoor adventure, Albert Nugue would celebrate by climbing as many rock faces as the number of years he'd lived. On Oct. 26, that meant making 36 ascents in the Red Rocks range of Nevada.
Less than two months later, Nugue was killed Dec. 19 as he tried to cross a busy highway in San Jose, Calif.
Nugue, a Roanoke native, former standout athlete at Patrick Henry High School and general manager of Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides in California, will be remembered Jan. 8 at a memorial service at Roanoke's St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
"Albert was a carefree soul," said his mother, Wanda Miller of Roanoke.
As an outdoor education major at Radford University, Nugue (pronounced new-gay) interned for Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, leading expeditions in rock climbing, backpacking and other mountain sports. After graduation, the internship led to a full-time job and a cross-country move to Oakhurst, Calif.
"He thought it was just wonderful that he did what he loved and got paid for it," Miller said.
While family and friends commemorate Nugue's life, details of his death remain unclear.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Dec. 19, Nugue left his car on the side of Highway 101 in San Jose and, "for unknown reasons at this time," attempted to cross the road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Nugue was struck by a southbound Subaru after the driver was unable to avoid the pedestrian, police said. Nugue was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver was not charged.
As word of the accident spread among the Sierra Nevada rock-climbing community and Nugue's friends back home in Roanoke, he was remembered for his love for the outdoors and a determination to conquer every peak in his path.
During his birthday climbs, Nugue would don a Superman outfit as the tradition grew more challenging each year. Zeke Federman, a friend and climbing partner, said they joked in November about what Nugue would do by the time he turned 56.
"He said, 'I've been seriously contemplating that, and I may have to change my game plan a little bit,' " Federman recalled.
Had Nugue lived to see his 56th birthday, Federman believes, he no doubt would have completed 56 pitches, or routes up a rock cliff. His only adjustment would likely have been to pick less challenging climbs, Federman said.
After more than a decade of leading climbs for Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Nugue became its general manager, coordinating trips and managing a staff of about 20 guides.
"Beyond Albert's passion for climbing, he was a wonderful manager of people," said Ian Elman, president of the company. "He was a real people person. He got along with everybody, and he was a very genuine person."
Nugue also served as president of Professional Climbing Guides Institute, an organization that develops nationally recognized training and certification standards for rock-climbing instructors and guides.
"The thing I remember most about him was that he was so encouraging," said Mark Krasnow of Colorado, who grew up with Nugue in Roanoke, where as boys they practiced rappelling off water towers and school buildings. "He was always pushing you to do better and supporting you."
Friends said Nugue took on mountain climbing the same way he did sports at Patrick Henry: Not the largest or most talented of athletes, he made up for that with sheer grit.
As a 130-pound wrestler, Nugue competed for a state championship in 1993. He also excelled in football -- kicking a game-winning field goal against William Fleming High School -- and lettered in swimming and soccer.
But perhaps more than anything else, Nugue's life was defined by his love for the outdoors. His zeal for rock climbing was so strong that he once put Baloo, his beloved 150-pound bulldog, in a harness and helped the dog make a 20-foot climb.
"Nothing is more appealing to me than being in the outdoors with great company," Nugue was quoted as saying in a profile on his employer's website. "I'm always looking forward to my next great adventure. Care to join me?"
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/272249