Penn State Abington issued a statement expressing deep sadness “after learning that Jaden Truskey, a freshman on the men’s soccer team, has passed away as a result of a tragic car accident on Sunday.”
“Jaden was the true definition of a student-athlete,” stated Ms. Deb Solfaro, Director of Athletics at Penn State Abington. “His smile and vibrant personality touched many people in his short time at Abington, and we grieve for his family, his friends, his coaches, his teammates and the entire campus community.”
According to the statement from the University, Mr. Truskey, 18 years of age, was “a resident of Ephrata, Pennsylvania…[He] enrolled on campus in the fall of 2018. As a rookie, he started 10 of the games he played in and was a key member of the Nittany Lion team that repeated as North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) champion and made a second straight trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Mr. Truskey finished the campaign with four goals, including three game winners and nine points.”
“This has been a difficult time for everyone associated with the Abington men’s soccer program,” stated Mr. David Castellanos, Men’s Soccer Head Coach at Penn State Abington. “From the first day we recruited Jaden, we knew he was a special player and, more importantly, a special person and that never changed as he excelled on and off the field and in the classroom as well. All of our thoughts and prayers are with Jaden’s family and I am grateful that they shared him with us at Abington.”
The statement from Penn State indicated that “Funeral services have yet to be announced. Counseling services are available for the campus community including fellow students, friends and teammates.”
The photograph is provided courtesy of Penn State Abington, 2018.