A senior football player at Spartanburg High School (S.C.) died on Friday, the school announced on Facebook.
Nick Dixon, 18, suffered complications with surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus, according to The State.
“As a principal, if you could pick one person in your school that represents everything you want that school to be about, I think Nick is in that mold,” principal Jeff Stevens told GoUpstate. “He was a great student. He was an awesome athlete and very much a competitor. But more than that, he could walk into any room that you were in and have a conversation with everybody … He would light up a room.”
A vigil was held for the teen on Sunday night.
“To get to know Nick was a blessing in my life,” said Nick’s best friend, Tyshun Moultrie, said to WSPA.
Nick Dixon you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/6R3t1JHrco
— SpartanburgVikingsFootball (@SHSVikingsfb) January 11, 2019
On the Spartanburg football team, Dixon primarily played linebacker, defensive line and running back. As a senior, he had 85 tackles, 13 for loss, and a sack. He also rushed for 60 yards.
He had offers from Georgia State, North Greenville and The Citadel, according to 247Sports.
Dixon was going to attend Wingate University, according to a GoFundMe page that was set up to help pay for funeral expenses.
As of Monday night, it had raised more than $17,000, surpassing the $15,000 goal.
