Albuquerque High Football Player Dies

Chávez-Carr Remembered As Hard-Working Achiever
Edwin Chávez-Carr, 16, High School football player, died last week- end from unknown causes. Chávez-Carr, a 5-foot, 10-inch 1-70-pound junior center-defensive end was found dead at his home Saturday morning.

AHS football coach Dick Archuleta said Wednesday evening that a report had not yet been completed by the Office of the Medical Investigator. OMI representatives couldn't be reached late Wednesday. "We don't know anything to this point," Archuleta said. "He was a good kid doing all the right things. He was being a good student and was a two- sport letterman (football and wrestling) as a sophomore. "It's very difficult for everybody. He was probably the most in-shape lineman we had. He worked extremely hard."

The Bulldogs (1-6) were beaten 57-0 by Manzano last Thursday. Archuleta said there was no indication Chávez-Carr suffered any injuries in the contest. Teammate Kurt Hinterbichler, a junior, knew Chávez-Carr since he was in the sixth grade and was a pallbearer at Tuesday's funeral. He said the player's death has been difficult for the team. We're mainly just in shock," Hinterbichler said. "It happened so suddenly. Football's what he liked, and we're trying to use it as motivation."

Archuleta said the team will pause for a moment of silence before its game Friday against Valley. - Hinterbichler said the team is : going to "wear black patches at - the game, retire his locker and retire his number (70)."

"He was funny," Hinterbichler said. "He had a great sense of humor. He pulled himself' out of having bad grades as a freshman and was an honor - student by 10th grade. He was a good guy to be around."

Archuleta said Chávez-Carr was also a member of the: school's JROTC, which will present the colors prior to the Valley game. Archuleta said Valley and Manzano players have sent cards to the Alburquerque High team. "They've been real kind," he - said. "We really appreciate that. This is just going to take time.

"It certainly does put things in perspective. We haven't, done well. - - - But the kid loved, the game. He worked hard and: never quit. He was always going against someone bigger, but he never complained.

"We tell our kids all the time, you never know when a play may be your last. But we are referring to broken bones and; things like that. You never think about something like this."

Family members couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday evening. An obituary listed his immediate family as his mother, Julia O. Chávez-Carr of Alburquerque; his father, Gerson, Carr of Ohio; sister, Melanie; half-sisters Cheryl and Laura, and half-brother, Ari.

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