By Liv Osby and Nathaniel Cary STAFF WRITERS The Greenville News
(Clemson) - Clemson University freshman Amy Marie Moxie died of aortic dissection, or a torn aorta, Pickens County Deputy Coroner Kandy Kelly said Wednesday.
Moxie collapsed while jogging on Tuesday and later died at Oconee Memorial Hospital. She had just completed her first week at college.
"It happens," said Kelly of the cause of death. "With a young person with no symptoms, there's no detecting it."
Moxie, a Simpsonville native and 2007 graduate of Mauldin High, was a member of the women's swim team and had just started as a student at Clemson, where she was a pre-business major. Advertisement
?We are deeply saddened by this sudden loss of a new member of the Clemson family, who already had significant ties to Clemson and many friends on campus and in the Upstate community," said Dean of Students Joy Smith. "Our sympathy and prayers are with her family and friends.?
Moxie had completed her first week as a student at Clemson. Moxie had been a member of Team Greenville and this summer served as guppy coach for the Riverwalk SAIL team.
Moxie?s swim coach said she had just passed a physical the day before she collapsed and died while running.
?She was cleared,? Ip said. ?She actually had her physical the day before, so she was cleared through Clemson.?
?Our heart goes out to the Moxie family, Ip said. "Amy was so eager to come to Clemson and was looking forward to the start of practice. That is what she was doing today, jogging on her own in preparation for the beginning of practice."
"She grew up wanting to be a Clemson Tiger, and she was passionate about being a part of our program, he said. Everyone in our swimming program is saddened by her loss, and we will give the Moxie family our total support in this difficult time."
Moxie was ranked in the top 10 in the state this year in the 400 free, 800 free, 1500 free, 200 back and 400 IM. She was state runner-up in the 200 free and 500 free in 2006 and was the South Carolina State Champion in the 500 free while a student at Mauldin High in 2005.
A candlelight vigil was held at 7:30 Wednesday night at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Simpsonville, to help the community heal in the wake of her unexpected death.
Joe Maggio, youth coordinator for St. Mary Magdalene, said, "It's intended to show support for Amy and her family and friends through prayer. And hopefully through prayer, we'll find some healing."
Moxie's swim coach said Moxie was running from the pool to the Jervey Athletic Center with two freshmen on the swim team to drop off some information.
Ip said the team hadn?t started practice yet, but he?d held a team meeting the first week of school, and Moxie had already gotten to know many of her teammates.
?She was already part of the program,? Ip said. ?Within a week she had already put a shining mark on how she was going to be a part of this program.?
Ip called the swim team ?a close family? of 67 men and women swimmers that had gotten together on their own and bonded.
When Ip sat down and asked Moxie what her three greatest strengths were, she said, ?I?m going to be the hardest worker. I?m going to be very motivated and I?ll be very consistent in all that I do to help the program,? Ip said.
Ip called Moxie an ?outstanding student? who was named to Who?s Who of Academics and the Pricipal?s Honor Roll at Mauldin and served on Beta Club.
Staff writer Ed McGranahan contributed to this report.
8/30/2007 10:43:32 AM
