The Dodge County High School community is mourning the sudden loss of 17-year-old student Hadden Kelly, who collapsed Monday morning during homecoming-related activities and later died, according to Dodge County Coroner Joe Smith.
Smith, who is also Kelly’s uncle, said the teen collapsed sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. He was rushed to Dodge County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The coroner described Kelly as a bright, outgoing young man with a remarkable talent for golf.
“Very outspoken and outgoing. A jam-up golfer. If he didn’t pass, I swear he would’ve gone pro,” Smith said. “Never met a stranger, talked to everybody. A great kid.”
Kelly’s death has shaken the entire Dodge County High School community. In a statement posted online, the school shared its grief:
“There are no words to express the sadness that our DCHS family feels for the loss of junior Hadden Kelly. Please join us in prayer for his family, friends, and our DCHS family. Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
As the community grieves, tributes to Kelly have begun pouring in, remembering him not only for his athletic skill but also for his warmth and kindness.