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Cheerleader collapses at basketball game
YOUNGSTOWN
An Ursuline varsity cheerleader collapsed before a stunned crowd as a home basketball game was starting Tuesday evening against Massillon Perry.
Lauren Petro, 16, an Ursuline junior who lives on Youngstown’s North Side, was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital where she was stabilized and expected to be transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron.
She’ll undergo tests there, said the Rev. Richard Murphy, Ursuline president.
While at St. Elizabeth, she regained a strong pulse and a strong heartbeat, said basketball coaches Cody Reese and Carey Palermo, who waited in the emergency room with others from the school.
“When she fell, she did lose consciousness, and heart function for a few seconds, and her breath was shallow,” said the Rev. Mr. Murphy.
“So two nurses from the school worked to revive her.” Lauren collapsed as Ursuline’s starting lineup was being announced.
“She was lying on the ground after the anthem,” said Kaitlin Goss, a freshman cheerleader, as she stood outside the school while people continued to trickle out. The game was postponed.
“She started shaking, and then everyone ran over to her, and we got in a group, said a prayer and we were asked to leave.
“We went to the hallway, and the paramedics came,” she said.
Head basketball coach Keith Gunther said a prayer, then asked the crowd to keep Lauren in its prayers.
“I looked over and she was lying on the floor,” Gunther told The Vindicator. “It makes basketball seem real unimportant right now.”
Gunther added that the school is asking for the community’s prayers.