The Wallkill football team will not play its first scheduled game on Friday after the March 1 death of senior linebacker Miguel Lugo.

The Panthers were originally scheduled to play a league game against the Cornwall Dragons on Friday night, but instead are expected to open their season at Robinson Field with a home league game against the Minisink Valley Warriors on March 19.
The game with Cornwall has not been rescheduled.

Players are required to attend at least 10 practices before being able to participate in a game. With the abbreviated preseason, the Panthers would have needed to practice at least six times last week and four times this week to be eligible to play.

According to Wallkill Central School District Superintendent Kevin Castle, Lugo suffered a medical emergency after practice concluded on March 1. He was transported to St. Luke’s Montefiore Hospital in Newburgh where he was pronounced dead.
The cause of death was not disclosed.

Lugo, the oldest of five siblings, who would have graduated in June enjoyed video games and skateboarding and was described as an athletic child who loved sports, mostly football.

He also was the oldest cousin. They described him as “athletic, loving, caring, goofy, angelic, kindhearted, bright, giving, helpful and of course handsome,” his family wrote his obituary.

He wore No. 25 for the Panthers and was described in his obituary as a force to be reckoned with on the football field.

“Everyone who played against his team knew they had to watch out for No. 25,” his family wrote in his obituary.

“I had the pleasure of knowing Miguel and when he saw me, he never hesitated to say hello. He was a very kind and respectful person,” Castle wrote in a note to district parents and guardians. “He was well liked by both students and adults. The Wallkill Learning Community will truly miss Miguel.”

He will be missed by a lot more than the Wallkill community as Lugo’s aunt, Angela Morales, set up a GoFundMe to help Lugo’s parents with funeral costs and to offset lost wages due to the tragedy.

“He was a vibrant and healthy boy who lit up any room he walked in,” Morales wrote. “Now his family is left here to wonder why. Why Miguel. He had a heart of gold and anyone who knew him loved him dearly.”

Castle said the district will make counselors available for students for as long as necessary.

“There are certainly no words to reflect the feeling of heartbreak, loss, and tragedy that our community is facing with the passing of senior Miguel Lugo,” read a post on the Wallkill Athletics Facebook Page. “Our deepest condolences go out to Miguel’s family. Miguel’s kindness and compassion for others were always on display, and his charming smile will forever be missed in our halls.”

As of Saturday afternoon, the GoFundMe raised $40,680 of its $10,000 goal.

“The amount of support we are receiving from our community is overwhelmingly amazing,” Morales wrote in on the family’s behalf. “Thank you all for every kind word, gesture, prayer, food and donation.”