VSU runner drowns in Suwannee River

Published 8:45 am Friday, August 10, 2012

The Valdosta State community is mourning the loss of incoming freshman cross country runner Tajay Hoppines, who drowned Wednesday evening while swimming in the Suwanee River with teammates during a team building event.

The search for Hoppines’ body continued well into the afternoon hours on Thursday, until a search and rescue team from Jacksonville discovered the body late in the afternoon.

“The VSU athletic family is saddened by the loss of Tajay Hoppines, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his cross country teammates and coaches,” said Valdosta State athletic director Herb Reinhard.

Hoppines,18, and fellow Valdosta State cross country runners were training in the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla.  Wednesday and decided to go for a swim in the murky waters of the Suwanee River.

“They had been out running on the property at the Spirit of the Suwanee doing training,” Suwanee County Sheriff Tony Cameron told the Suwannee Democrat. “They then went to the river.”

Several members of the team decided to swim across the river at the popular sandbar inside the park. That is when Hoppines went under the water, according to the Democrat. Teammates attempted to bring up Hoppines, but couldn’t locate his body.

The VSU cross country team was set to return home from the Suwanee Park today, but were all back in Valdosta late Wednesday night. Mem- bers of the team will receive counseling from the  VSU Counseling Center.

“On behalf of the entire VSU family, our hearts go out to his family, and our gratitude goes out to the law enforcement agencies that diligently conducted the search and recovery efforts,” said VSU President William J. McKinney in a release.

Hoppines was set to compete in his first season with the Blazers and is a native of Dacula. He attended Mill Creek High School in Hoschton. He helped lead the Hawks to a Region 7-AAAAA championship and a state runner-up finish in 2011. He finished 48th in the state cross country meet (38th in Gwinnett County).

Hoppines was also a member of the school’s soccer team, where he helped guide the Hawks to their first-ever state playoff appearance.

In 2012, Hoppines scored 9 goals, four game-winners, and had 10 assists and was named second team al-region.

“This is obviously devastating news,” said Mill Creek principal Jim Markham.

“He was a fine young man.”