Richmond High (Va.) became another high school football community to suffer medical tragedy this fall, when senior two-way lineman Anthony Craig Lobrano, a 17-year-old returning All-State honoree, died Tuesday (Sept. 5) due to complications from heatstroke, which caused him to collapse during Monday morning's practice.

Just last month, Saline High (Ann Arbor, Mich.) junior lineman Jeremy Tarlea, 15, died a week after suffering heat stroke in practice. Monsignor Pace High (Opa Locka, Fla.) strong safety and senior Brian Bell, 17, died suddenly of a congenital arterial defect in his heart during practice earlier in the month. Lobrano, a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder, passed away just four days after the Blue Devils lost their season-opener, 7-6, to Hopewell High (Va.)

"It's been a sad time here," said Henrico County Public Schools public information director Janet Binns. "You can't explain it. It's just an extremely sad tragedy. [Craig] was the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his friends. This is a tough time for our school community."

Binns said she was informed via telephone at 6:30 a.m. yesterday that Lobrano had been pronounced dead at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Hospitals. According to the state medical examiner, the cause of death was hyperthermia, an abnormally elevated body temperature commonly known as heat stroke. A report in the Richmond Times Dispatch today delineated Lobrano's death as the fifth football-related fatality in the state since 1986, attributing the Virginia High School League (VHSL) as the source of the data.

According to Binns, the team plans to play this Friday's scheduled home game against Richmond rival Douglas Freeman High at 7 p.m. She added that after speaking with school system psychologists individually and as a group, the team and coaching staff decided to hold a light practice yesterday and press on through their existing season schedule.

Binns said school principal Jerry Kanner confirmed this morning that the team is still discussing some in-season tribute to their fallen teammate, but that no decision has been made and Friday's game would not include a special ceremony. Lobrano's funeral is scheduled for tomorrow (Sept. 7) at 2 p.m.

"I guess everybody's doing as well as can be expected," said a clearly emotional Dennis Minton, Varina High's athletic director. "The county has a crisis intervention program for every school for this type of thing. We just can't say a lot right now."

Binns confirmed that information released by the school system this morning was accurate: Lobrano collapsed less than 30 minutes into practice on Monday. The team had already taken two water breaks at the time.

Medically, heat-related illness is generally preceded by clear warning signs such as cramping, dizziness, vomiting or even drastic body pigment discoloration. Full-blown heat stroke, characterized by a runaway body temperature, can cause irreparable major organ dysfunction such as liver or kidney failure or neurological damage.

In a SchoolSports report on sudden cardiac death in teen athletes last month, Dr. Robert Myerburg, Professor of Medicine and Physiology and Director of Cardiology at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, contended heatstroke fatalities shouldn't occur if any reasonable attention is given to hydration and salt intake.

According to the Times-Dispatch report, the VHSL conducts annual and required rules and safety clinics for its coaches, who learn about heat illness and preventative measures. The temperature was 77 degrees and humidity was 85 percent on Monday morning in Richmond.

"You could joke with [Craig] and tease with him, he was an all-around good guy," said Binns of the All-Capital District, All-Central Region, All-Metro and Associated Press All-State first team selection last year as a junior. "He was polite, well-liked and a super athlete. Right now, our priority is these kids. We need to be together now. We're all moms and dads here and this could be any of us."

According to Binns, Lobrano was receiving recruiting attention from Division I and I-AA collegiate football programs. He is survived by his father, Tom, his mother, Anita, and his brother, Joe. The family has suggested memorial donations be made to the Varina High Athletic Boosters Club (7053 Messer Road, Richmond, Va., 23231).