There are risks you take when you play a sport. Unfortunately, in extremely rare times, a death can occur. 10 years ago, one of our local athletes lost his life playing the sport he loved — but his legacy lives on through this tournament.
In 2006, John Mack, a lacrosse player for Binghamton High School, died after he was struck in the chest, sending him into cardiac arrest.
An AED defibrillator was the only device that could have saved him. The nearest one was 19 minutes away and by the time it had arrived John had lost his life.
The John Mack Southern Tier Shootout was created later that year. A tournament that has drawn lacrosse teams from across the nation and beyond to the Southern Tier.
“I’m happy that every year we get a whole bunch of people who come up and learn the story. And realize, after this tournament is over, we’ll have a lot of these clubs ask us for an AED or help getting an AED,” Robert Mack, director of the tournament, said.
This year marks the 10th year of the tournament.
SOURCE: WBNG