Sports
14 year old Granger boy dies after basketball hoop falls on him – WNDU
A 14 year old Granger boy was killed in a freak accident Friday while playing basketball inside his home.
Authorities were called to the 10000 block of Arcadian Court at 5:58 p.m.
Asst. Chief Bill Thompson said Nolan Gerwels was playing basketball, with his younger sister, when the rim, backboard and supportive mounting brace dislodged from the wall and fell on top of him causing a head injury.
He was taken to Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Margaret Gerwels, Nolan’s mother, sent NewsCenter 16 this statement:
“Nolan was an incredible kid. He was an honor student at discovery middle school. He was first chair percussionist with the discovery honors band. He loved sports. Played baseball with Harris storm, basketball with discovery middle school and tipping point where he played point guard. He ran cross country and track and field— preferring high jump. He just finished summer conditioning with the Marian basketball team and was optimistic about having a spot on the freshman team this coming fall.
Nolan was a kind, caring kid, who valued hard work, fairness, and loyalty. He was always willing to help anyone — he has even spent the last three years as assistant coach for his little sister’s upward basketball team. He was just an all around great kid and nice guy. Loved his friends and his family and was very close to all his siblings.
This is horrific and overwhelming. We are a close family, so everyone bears this heavy weight of his absence. He was so, so loved by everyone.”
