Former El Modena star Ryder Wade, freshman at Concordia University, dies in accident

Concordia University remembered Garrett Ryder Wade in a tribute on social media Friday. He was known to teammates, family and friends as Ryder. (Photo courtesy CUI Athletics)

Former El Modena High School water polo star Garrett Ryder Wade, who was enrolled at Concordia University in Irvine and was scheduled to play for the Eagles, died from injuries in a traffic accident Friday morning in Irvine, Concordia officials confirmed.

Known as “Ryder,” Wade was a three-year varsity player and three-time all-league player at El Modena. He was the team’s MVP his senior year and also earned All-CIF honors. Wade, a resident of Orange, was on the freshmen and JV teams in his first year with the Vanguards.

“Ryder was more than an outstanding water polo athlete for El Modena,” said El Modena Athletic Director Ed Drzanek. “He was gifted with the ability to make people smile when they were sad, encourage them when they had doubt, lead when no one would step up. His energy, laughter and love for life has left a void in our community.”

Wade, 18, was also actively involved in ASB and the Rowdy Rooters support group for athletics on campus, Drzanek said. Wade was born on April 2, 2002 to Gary and Martha Wade, according to Concordia officials.

Irvine police said in a press release that the motorcycle Wade was driving was in a collision with another vehicle at the corner of Walnut and Kazan. Officials with the Orange County Fire Authority responded and Wade was transported to OC Global Hospital where he was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival, police said.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision stayed at the scene and is cooperating and the investigation is continuing, the police release added.

Wade was leaving practice at the William Woollett Center in Irvine, where Concordia practices, when the accident occured, Concordia officials said. Wade, a promising player who was scheduled to be a utility player, was not able to make his debut with the Eagles since the start of the team’s season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has haulted or delayed many sports since last March.

Concordia is scheduled to open the season on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Cal Baptist.

Concordia students were informed of Wade’s death in an Email from President Michael Thomas:

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news of the passing of one of our students this morning,” Thomas said in a statement. “Shortly after leaving water polo practice this morning from the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, freshman student-athlete Ryder (Garrett) Wade was involved in a car accident as he rode his motorcycle. Ryder, a Behavior Science major with an emphasis in Psychology, was pronounced dead at the hospital. On behalf of the University, we extend our deepest sympathy to Ryder’s parents, family and his sister Bailey who is also a student here at Concordia University Irvine.”

Concordia students met Friday at 11 a.m. for counseling and pastoral care, the president said. He added an outdoor gathering was scheduled for Friday evening to offer additional counseling and pastoral care. Students were also provided additional resources for counseling, Thomas said.

“I have reached out personally to Ryder’s family to pass along condolences of the CUI community,” he added. “We’ve offered support to the family as they grieve the loss of Ryder. For now, we want to give the Wade family and Ryder’s friends, classmates, and teammates time to grieve. If there’s any kind of memorial planned later to honor Ryder’s memory, we will let you know. Thank you, Concordia family, for your prayers.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

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