Dylan Veselic by @BayVillageLAX / X (Left), Dylan Veselic's prayer service via St Raphael Bay Village video screengrab / Facebook (Right)
CV NEWS FEED // A 16-year-old Catholic from Bay Village, Ohio, died this week after sustaining a blow to the head during a lacrosse game.
Cleveland19 reported that Dylan Veselic, a sophomore at Bay Village High School, was injured when a ball struck his head May 6. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery before passing away the morning of May 8.
Bay Village High School shared the family’s message upon their son’s passing with the school: “With heavy hearts, the Veselic Family shares the news that Dylan has passed away from injuries suffered during a lacrosse game. We are deeply touched by the overwhelming support and kindness shown by our community and beyond. We ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Veselic’s pastor, Father Dan Schlegel of St. Raphael Catholic Church, gave the teen last rites May 7. He told Cleveland19 that Veselic was joyful, enthusiastic, and a great teammate.
“Dylan was a great kid,” Fr. Schlegel said. “He was a teammate and that was really important for us to note that he wasn’t about himself. He was really a team player.”
Bay Village High School’s athletic director, Matt Spellman, shared a similar statement after Veselic’s passing.
“Dylan was an amazing student athlete, always wearing a smile on his face while supporting his fellow teammates,” he wrote. “He was kind, hardworking, and dedicated, consistently showing leadership, empathy, and a positive attitude both on the field and in the classroom. Dylan’s enthusiasm, determination, and willingness to help others made him a role model for his peers. Please continue to keep the Veselic family, Dylan’s teammates, and all who loved and supported him in your thoughts and prayers.”
During Dylan’s hospitalization, town members left lacrosse sticks on their front porches as a tribute to Veleic and his family.
“Our important part right now is to support and comfort his family in the days ahead and figure out the way that each of us can honor Dylan in our own lives so that his memory stays in our hearts and stays in our thoughts forever,” Fr. Schlegel added.
St. Raphael Church held a prayer service the evening after Veselic passed, drawing hundreds of people.
“There’s nothing that you can do to erase the hurt or the pain or the suffering,” Fr. Schlegel said. “But, remembering him and honoring him by living life as he lived it is the best way that we can continue on his memory.”
