Prep Player Died of Heatstroke

A football player at Clinton Central High in Michigantown, Ind., whose team allegedly had been denied water during an afternoon practice, collapsed and died of heatstroke, a coroner’s report said.

Travis Stowers, 17, a junior from Kirklin, Ind., complained of tingling in his limbs and nausea during preseason practice July 31 .The temperature that day was 90 degrees.

Sources close to the football program said the coach withheld a water break that afternoon because he was displeased with players’ performance.

Stowers’ death this summer was among several football-related fatalities that raised nationwide awareness about the dangers surrounding the sport.

The day after Stower’s death, Clinton Central Athletic Director Linda Barnett and Principal Ron Dunn suggested Stowers’ death was caused by a brain aneurysm and that it was unrelated to football.

But Marion (Ind.) County Coroner Frances Kelly said there was no sign of an aneurysm.

“I don’t know where the school ever got that idea,” Kelly said.

Calls to Dunn, football Coach George Gilbert and the school superintendent were not returned.

Stowers’ father, Alan, has also declined to discuss his son’s death.

Travis’s brothers, Jared and Clayton, play for Clinton teams.

Kelly said that after she released the autopsy report--which included negative toxicology results-and spoke to a local newspaper, Alan Stowers called her boss demanding that the report, which is public record, be kept private.

He demanded that Kelly be disciplined for speaking.

“I thought the family would at least be happy to know that their son had taken no drugs or supplements,” Kelly said.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 6-3 record and begin the state playoffs this weekend.