By ISABEL MENDOZA
Staff Writer
On Thursday, August 26, 2021, Ernesto Garin, also known as Neto, died in a car crash. Ernesto went to football practice then a team dinner. He was just a couple miles away from school when a big rig pulled out in front of him. Neto’s car was trapped underneath.
The people who knew him say it was hard to not be happy around him. Assistant coach, Jonathan Holland, said “Like even if he wasn’t saying anything funny, just his personality, his demeanor he’s going to make you smile. You can’t help it. That’s just him.”
Student Emily Rangel at Washington Union High said “He had such a beautiful soul, you know? He was such a genuine person. He was sweet.”
The Friday night football game on August 27 between Washington Union and Kingsburg was canceled to remember Neto. Friends and family gathered along the forty-yard line to remember number 40. They had personalized t-shirts on, lit candles, and left flowers around his jersey on the football field.
Holland said ¨You can’t replace a person like him. So we’re not even going to try.” Player Nathan Lopez said ¨Every game is for Neto. Everything is for number 40.¨
