A Columbine High School freshman running back has died suddenly at just 14 years old, leaving his teammates and coaches grappling with grief as they remember him as the emotional center of their team. Noah Daniel Vesich passed away last week, and no cause of death has been released publicly.
Columbine Football announced the loss in a post published Wednesday evening on Facebook, as reported by the Denver Gazette. “We are absolutely devastated to learn about the passing of one of our bright student athletes, Noah Vesich,” the team wrote, describing his death as unexpected. As of Sunday, no cause of death had been released publicly, the outlet reported.
Vesich primarily played running back on Columbine's freshman squad, per the same account. Coach Dave Lee, who leads Columbine's freshman football program, and Vesich's teammates have spent the days since his death celebrating his life and remembering the impact he had on the team.
Remembered as “The Heart” of the Team
Those who knew Vesich described him as funny, energetic, hardworking and a caring teammate. Multiple teammates and coaches went further, calling him simply “the heart” of the team, a description that speaks to how central he was to the group beyond his play at running back.
Columbine Football also shared word of Vesich's death in a post on X published Friday morning, continuing to spread the news of his passing across the school's social channels. A fundraiser was also organized to help his family.
The team’s tribute also reached beyond Columbine’s own sideline. Before a Friday varsity game against Chatfield, players from both schools lined up along the field for a moment of silence in Vesich’s honor, turning a league matchup into a public remembrance by two neighboring programs. The pregame observance was documented in coverage of the game.
Funeral Arrangements and Support for the Family
A GoFundMe campaign was published Wednesday by a loved one to help cover funeral and other costs, with organizers describing Vesich's family as going through an incredibly painful time. Details of the fundraiser's goal and progress were not immediately available.
A funeral service is scheduled for October 3 at 11 a.m. at Red Rocks Church-Littleton, giving classmates, teammates and family a chance to gather and say goodbye to the 14-year-old.
The funeral is preceded by a visitation on Friday, October 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel in Lakewood, followed by Saturday’s service at Red Rocks Church-Littleton. The obituary notice identifies Noah Daniel Vesich as a Lakewood resident and says he died September 23 at age 14.
For now, the Columbine football community continues to lean on each other, with Lee and Vesich's teammates keeping his memory alive as they remember him as “the heart” of the team.
For young people and families in the Denver area coping with a death, Judi’s House in Aurora offers another local support resource. The organization provides grief services at no cost to children and young adults ages 3 to 25 and their families; its school and community programs also include peer grief groups and workshops. The resource is available locally, though there is no indication that Vesich’s family or teammates are using it.
