A 20-year-old player on Colorado College’s men’s tennis team recently died in his sleep, the first of two college athletes to unexpectedly die in the span of a week.
Jack Madison, a sophomore from Bexley, Ohio, died in his sleep while at home from college on Jan. 2, the college’s athletic department announced.
”Jack was one of the most friendly and respectful student-athletes we have had in our program,” said head tennis coach Anthony Weber. “We will miss his selflessness and positive influence.”
Madison’s death came a week before an Air Force Academy football player suddenly died on his way to class on Monday. Hunter Brown, a 21-year-old offensive lineman, died after having a “medical emergency while leaving his dormitory,” according to the Air Force Falcons’ statement.
Madison missed the 2021-22 college tennis season because of hernia complications, according to his obituary, but played in this year’s season. He won two single matches and a doubles match at last year’s Metro State invitational, according to the college’s statement.
In high school, he’d been a four-year letterwinner in tennis and led the team as captain his senior year, according to his college bio. He was a state finalist as a senior after advancing to the state finals as a sophomore.
His obituary said he was “crazy about art,” edited a college newspaper, managed the college radio station’s blog, and had a “passion for painting; we’ll cherish his paintings forever.”
Before he died, Madison had been “excited” to vacation with his family at Siesta Key later in the week, according to the obituary.
Lesley Irvine, athletic director and vice president of Colorado College, said Madison was a “treasured member” of the tennis program, and the community is “devastated” by his “tragic passing.”
Madison is survived by both his parents, a sister, and a grandfather and grandmother, according to the obituary.
