Aug. 8, 2006

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Vince Bernardo, a freshman football player at Shippensburg, died this morning during the team's first official drill of the 2006 season.

Bernardo, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound freshman offensive lineman, was among the 106 Shippensburg football players participating in the early-morning workout on the practice fields next to Seth Grove Stadium where the team was conducting conditioning and agilities testing.

"The campus community, especially members of the Red Raiders football team, are deeply saddened by the death today of Vince Bernardo, said university President Jody Harpster. “He was well liked by his teammates, and our coaches expected him to be an important part of the team. His friends said he was excited about being on the team and had trained hard during the summer to play football at the collegiate level. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends during this difficult time."

According to Head Coach Rocky Rees, "The coaches and players are devastated by the loss of Vince Bernardo. We are grieving tremendously for his parents and two sisters. He was very much a part of our family, as he was theirs."

A 17-year-old Flourtown native and graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Bernardo was running 110-yard timed runs when he started to struggle with the conditioning drills about 19 minutes into the workout that began at approximately 8:02 a.m.

During the workout, Bernardo started breathing deeply, but attempted to finish the drill. When he was unable to finish, one of the University's Certified Athletic Trainers went to the field where Bernardo was continuing to breathe heavily, but was alert and responsive. The trainers took him to the athletic training facility where his condition worsened and an ambulance was called. While there, his condition suddenly deteriorated further.

The trainers and other university emergency and safety personnel immediately began CPR at which time the ambulance arrived. Bernardo was taken by ambulance and accompanied by local paramedics to Chambersburg Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:36 a.m.

Information on memorial services will be announced when available.