Southampton Teen Wrestler Chase Sudano, 15, Killed in E-Bike Crash; St. Augustine Family and Community Devastated

Chase Sudano, a sophomore wrestler at St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, New Jersey, died Tuesday morning after being struck by a UPS truck while riding his e-bike in Southampton Township. He was 15 years old.

The accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. The news spread quickly through the South Jersey wrestling community, leaving coaches, teammates, and competitors who had faced him on the mat in a state of shock and grief.

St. Augustine head wrestling coach Bill Ward learned of the tragedy through his son Luke, who is also a sophomore at the school. Luke came across news of the accident in a group chat and immediately alerted his father.

Michigan Chiropractor Dr. Brian Parkhurst Dies Unexpectedly, Leaving Wife Dr. Karla and Grieving Community Behind

Ward then texted Chase’s father directly, who confirmed that Chase had passed away. The speed with which the word traveled speaks to how tightly knit the South Jersey wrestling world is, and how many lives this young athlete had already touched in his short time competing.

Chase had made a name for himself at the 132-pound weight class during his first two years of high school wrestling. Photographs from matches earlier this year show him competing with intensity and focus well beyond his age. Those who coached against him or watched him from the stands consistently described a young man who approached the sport with quiet determination.

A Community in Mourning Reaches Out

Within hours of the news breaking, tributes from wrestling programs across South Jersey began pouring in on social media.

The Capers Wrestling program was among the first to respond publicly, stating that the Southampton Township community was grieving the unexpected passing of a talented wrestler, leaving family, friends, teammates, coaches, and loved ones in profound sorrow. They extended their thoughts and prayers to the Sudano family.

Clearview High School Wrestling, a program Chase had faced in competition, offered a heartfelt statement describing him as an outstanding young man, a dedicated wrestler, and someone who made a positive impact on those around him.

The program expressed hope that the Sudano family could find strength in the memories they shared and the lives Chase had touched throughout his brief but impactful career.

Washington Township Junior Wrestling, where many South Jersey wrestlers develop their foundation before reaching high school, also paid tribute.

Their statement captured something essential about Chase that went beyond wins and losses. They remembered not only his athletic ability but also his laid-back personality that made him someone people genuinely enjoyed being around. They noted that because Chase wrestled so frequently at so many levels, practically everyone in the community had a connection to him in some way.

That point resonates deeply. Youth wrestling in South Jersey operates as a small, interconnected world where kids grow up competing against each other at tournaments throughout the region, year after year.

By the time a wrestler reaches the high school level, the friendships and rivalries stretch back years. Chase was only a sophomore, yet he had already built relationships and left impressions across an entire regional sporting community.

Remembering Chase

What comes through in every tribute is a portrait of a young man who was far more than an athlete. His talent on the mat was evident to anyone who watched him compete.

Still, the outpouring from programs that faced him from the other side suggests that what people will remember most is who he was as a person, not just what he accomplished in competition.

The Sudano family has not yet issued a public statement. Arrangements have not been announced.

Chase Sudano was a sophomore at St. Augustine Preparatory School. He was 15 years old.