The Enterprise of Brockton www.enterprisenews.com Maria Papadopoulos ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Hundreds of family and friends turn out for Aaron Ortiz, who drowned last week in Maine. EASTON -- Sonia Ortiz walked slowly onto the football field at Oliver Ames High School Sunday afternoon and collapsed onto the grass sobbing loudly. She was crying for one of her twin sons, Aaron Ortiz, who was preparing to play on the field this fall before the teen tragically drowned Thursday while taking a dip in a lake with friends at a football camp in Maine. As she took part in a 11/2-mile memorial walk Sunday afternoon in honor of her late son, Ortiz blamed a lifeguard at Lake Cobbosseecontee in Monmouth, Maine, for not reaching her son fast enough. "The lifeguard on duty did not respond right away because he thought it was a joke," Ortiz cried, holding onto family and friends as she walked in near 90-degree weather. Ortiz was among 95 members of the varsity, junior varsity and freshman football teams and nine coaches at the camp, school officials said. Ortiz' family said Aaron was tired during his swim. The teen had just completed doing drills with his teammates "for a better part of two hours and they were tired and fatigued," his mother said. His twin brother, Adam Ortiz, was also at the lake when Aaron drowned. "He was just tired, tired from swimming so fast," Adam Ortiz, 15, said as he broke down in tears before the walk. Hundreds of family and friends came out for the walk, which began at the Ortiz family's home on Mechanic Street and ended at Oliver Ames High School. "I appreciate everyone that's come out here to support my family," his mother said. "I never thought my son touched so many hearts." Aaron Ortiz, a former Brockton resident, also played for Brockton Midget Football in 2004, said Kathy McKernan, treasurer for that league. After the walk, Adam Ortiz sought solace from several of his friends who hugged him as the walkers gathered near the goal post on the football field. Police removed media from the football field before a series of speeches paying tribute to Aaron began. Sunday night, Jim Artz, head football coach for Oliver Ames High School, said Aaron "had a heart of gold." "He had a contagious smile. He was just a fantastic kid," Artz said. Artz declined comment on details of the swimming accident. He said students are coping with the loss of their friend. "All of them will be affected a little differently," Artz said. "It's going to hit them at different times and different ways." A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday from Immaculate Conception Church, 193 Main St., Easton. Until the Ortiz family has a chance to grieve, Artz also said he doesn't want to talk any football. "We won't take the field again" until then, he said. Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.
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Aaron
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2007 Louisville Leopards Division II State Runner-up
The Louisville Leopard captains accept the 2007 Ohio High School Athletic Assocation Division II football state runner-up trophy.
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FOOTBALL: Wellsville NY preview with Elba
The Wellsville Lions and the Elba/Byron-Bergen Lancers will play Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Division III Championship of the Connors & Ferris Bowl at PAETEC Park in Rochester.
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Livingston
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Genesee
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Byron-Bergen
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Frank
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Tony
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