River Hawks mourn the loss of Oluwatoni Onikeku
7/13/2015 10:17:00 AM | Men's Cross Country/Track & Field, United In Blue Fund
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LOWELL, Mass.  –  UMass Lowell and the track and field community is mourning the loss of rising senior high jumper Oluwatoni Onikeku, a student-athlete and an active member of the campus community.
Onikeku drowned on Sunday while swimming with friends in the Deerfield River in Deerfield, Mass.Â
Onikeku, a Fitchburg, Mass. resident and a native of Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, is being described as a well liked teammate, outstanding athlete, strong student, an active member of Student-Athlete Advisory Council and a very involved member of the campus community. Â
"The university community is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Oluwatoni Onikeku," the university said in a statement issued this morning. Â "Our thoughts are with his family and friends, to whom we offer our heartfelt sympathy. We have reached out to his teammates to offer counseling and support."
UMass Lowell Director of Athletics Dana Skinner expressed the feelings of many; "We are heartbroken and saddened with this news as our River Hawk family has lost a special member. Â Our thoughts and prayers are with Toni's family, friends and the entire UMass Lowell track & field community during this time of loss."
Onikeku was a political science major with a 3.15 GPA and had recently been elected to a leadership position on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Â He served as the Treasurer for SAAC and had been elected to fill that position for a second year. Â Onikeku, also, was active in the Bowling for Impact and Ugly Sweater fundraising events.
"He was hard working and focused, Toni was a true team leader," said Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner. Â "There wasn't one person on the team that he didn't sincerely care about and it showed. It didn't matter if it was a jumper, thrower or distance runner Toni was friends with all of them. The show of support on social media is absolutely amazing. A real tribute to Toni's character."
In track and field competition, Onikeku earned a variety of honors. Â He was named All-America East, All-New England and All-East during the 2015 outdoor season and earned a spot in the UMass Lowell Top Ten Lists clearing the bar at six-feet, 10.25-inches.
"Toni was so much more than just a high jumper on the team; he was a friend, a leader and a school ambassador." said Assistant Coach Patrick Swett who works with the team's jumpers. Â "Toni was a bright shining light with boundless potential and an enormous heart destined for success well beyond the high jump apron. The track team at UMass Lowell becomes a second family to those who join the program. Collectively we are mourning the loss of a brother and to me, a son."
Counseling services are being made available to those who need them. Â Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
Onikeku will be remembered as an athlete, a student, an active member of the campus community and, by most people, as a friend.Â
Statement from UMass Lowell on the July 12 drowning death of undergraduate student Oluwatoni Onikeku:
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"The university community is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Oluwatoni Onikeku. Toni was a 20-year-old rising senior from Fitchburg, Mass., a political science major and a member of the track and field team. He had recently been elected to a leadership position on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, to whom we offer our heartfelt sympathy. We have reached out to his teammates to offer counseling and support."
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Our thoughts and prayers are with Oluwatoni's family & friends and the whole UMass Lowell community https://t.co/xOBsyxs01b
— America East (@AmericaEast) July 13, 2015An all-time great teammate, all-time great person. Love you pal https://t.co/olU6vSjMRe
— Gerard Eastman (@GerardEastman) July 13, 2015Our thoughts and prayers are with the @RiverHawkNation family today https://t.co/CakGsP5UOm
— Vermont Athletics (@UVMAthletics) July 13, 2015Thoughts and prayers are with the Onikeku and River Hawks families.  https://t.co/pJbbc4rF88
— Mary Mulvenna (@mulvenna09) July 13, 2015Our thoughts and condolences go out to @RiverHawkXCTF & @RiverHawkNation during this difficult time. https://t.co/hRFzbeVJTB
— Maine T&F/XC (@MaineTF) July 13, 2015#ForeverARiverhawk https://t.co/1vAGF0rT1u
— Ryan O'Grady (@Ryan_Throws) July 13, 2015We lost a true student-athlete leader & visionary for @RiverHawkSAAC. He will always always be in my heart! http://t.co/SmikNzyNH3
— Mike Anderson (@RunMikeAnderson) July 13, 2015My thoughts and prayers go out to Olwantoni's family & @RiverHawkNation. He was a special young man with a huge heart!http://t.co/6moEmJU9Cf
— Scott Dolch (@Dolchie10) July 13, 2015Can't believe it, such a great person gone way too soon RIP Toni O https://t.co/ojFBXbRS0v
— Courtney Brooks (@courtbrooks8) July 13, 2015Our thoughts and prayers are with Toni's family and all of @RiverHawkNation ????
— UNH SAAC (@UNHSAAC) July 13, 2015Our thoughts and prayers are with Oluwatoni's family & friends and the whole @RiverHawkNation family today! http://t.co/J7yzRLAG1y
— Hartford Hawks (@HartfordHawks) July 13, 2015No words about this. Just met Toni at our #AESAAC mtg a few weeks ago. A true rising leader who will be missed. https://t.co/Fm7uwv5JAl
— Amy Huchthausen (@AE_Commish) July 13, 2015"We would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the Onikeku and @RiverHawkNation families."
— Stony Brook SAAC (@StonyBrookSAAC) July 13, 2015My thoughts & prayers are with the family & friends of Oluwatoni Onikeku. Thinking of the entire UMass Lowell community @RiverHawkNation
— Linda Cimino (@coachcim) July 13, 2015
