Matthew Mayich was a 21-year-old sophomore defenseman at Arizona State when he collapsed during an outdoor team workout on August 20th in Tempe. Six weeks later, he’s still in the hospital, and his family’s attorney says he’s unlikely to make a full recovery. This week his parents, John and Christina, asked the university to place the coaches who ran that workout on leave until an independent investigation wraps up, saying players need to know they won’t face retaliation for speaking honestly.
The facts are in dispute. Seven anonymous players sent a letter to ASU President Michael Crow challenging the school’s account, alleging the session was led military-style by former Green Beret Timothy Ziesel, with inadequate water breaks and no background check. Ziesel’s attorney, Buddy Rake, disputes that, saying no one was denied water and no one vomited. ASU police are investigating and will forward their findings to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
For those of us here on the Suncoast, with spring training down the road and kids in every rec league and high school program in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties, the story raises a question that goes beyond one campus. When programs bring in outside trainers for off-season conditioning, who’s actually responsible for making sure it’s safe?
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