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Odin Hensley , a senior offensive lineman at Lake Travis High School in Austin, died Wednesday after collapsing at the school's varisty football practice Monday morning. He was 17.
Hensley's social media accounts provide more insight into the life of the now-deceased Lake Travis student. His bio on X says he was a three-year varsity wrestler in addition to an offensive tackle and offensive guard at the Austin-area football power, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior who also had an impressive 3.7 GPA.
Teachers and coaches remembered him as "a kind, determined young man" and a valued teammate, classmate and friend, according to Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Curtis Null.
Hensley had been part of the Lake Travis ISD community since elementary school and was a three-year varsity wrestler. On the football field, he played offensive tackle and guard and had received an offer to continue his football career at McPherson College in Kansas.
Hensley was airlifted to the ICU at Dell Children's Medical Center on Monday morning, but passed away due to complications from cardiac arrest, per a statement from Lake Travis Independent School District Superintendent Curtis Null.
The Facebook page for Joshua Hensley, Odin's father, includes a stream of posts promoting Odin's candidacy in a Youth Athlete of the Year contest involving Sports Illustrated. Joshua's latest public post is from April, in which he congratulates his son on receiving an official offer to play football for McPherson College, an NAIA program in McPherson, Kansas.
"I want to congratulate this young man on his dedication to his goals and his dreams becoming reality! This will be the first of many I am sure!," Joshua wrote. "I have never seen someone work harder than him and more coachable. He is always getting better even when he is already at the top.
"No ceiling for this young man! Let's go Odin."
Teammates and family mourned Hensley's death and posted tributes on social media throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Hensley's uncle Gilbert Ruiz posted a Facebook message in remembrance of his nephew late Wednesday night.
"It's with a broken heart to say we lost a young king today," Ruiz posted on Facebook. "This kid was full of light and just the greatest all around young man. You will be missed Odin son."
Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Curtis Null confirmed Hensley's death in a letter to the district Wednesday, describing the loss as one that would be felt throughout the school community.
Getting ready for junior season! 330 on bench and 460 On shoulder press machine! @Coach_Cotton713 @CoachStanchek @BurlesonHSU @CoachLytal @CoachShoeOL @Garrison_Oline @Coach_Crill @CoachFraney @AJAntonescu @LT_FBRecruiting pic.twitter.com/bcLQQdJBjV
"It is with profound sadness that we share that Lake Travis High School senior Odin Hensley has passed away as a result of complications from a medical emergency he experienced during football practice earlier this week," Null wrote.
Null said Hensley was remembered by his teachers and coaches as "a kind, determined young man" who was a valued teammate, classmate and friend.
"His presence touched many lives, and he will be deeply missed," Null wrote.
Roughly 350 people attended a vigil for Hensley at Austin's Lake Hill Church on Wednesday night. A GoFundMe supporting Hensley's family was created Monday and raised nearly $150,000 as of Thursday morning.
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