Sergey Pivovarnik: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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A high school junior football star drowned while swimming in a lake in his Ohio hometown. Officials named Sergey Pivovarnik as the victim of the tragedy shortly after it occurred on the afternoon of July 6. The incident occurred in Parma, Ohio, where Pivovarnik was a high school junior.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Local Fire Department Said that Pivovarnik Got Into ‘Distress’ While Swimming

Speaking to ABC Cleveland, Parma Fire Public Information Officer Brian Downie said the lake where Pivovarnik died is classified as a no swim area. It’s in Veterans Memorial Park along State Road in the town of Parma. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 1 p.m. early in the afternoon of July 6. The teen’s body was pulled from the water shortly after. Downie said that Pivovarnik had gotten into “distress” while swimming.

2. He Loved to Make Funny Videos & Vines

On his Facebook page, you can see the many videos that Pivovarnik made featuring his dog, Rex. In a tweet he sent out on July 5, he wrote “I love my dog more than anything in this world.” He also had an active Vine page, although he stopped posting in February 2015. According to his Facebook page, he was a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the New York Yankees.

3. He Was Due to Enroll at a Medical Program at a Different High School

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Pivovarnik had been due to enroll in the medical program at Normandy High School, reports Fox Cleveland. The station added that at Parma Senior High School he had been a peer mentor and a student worker. The school district’s website said that grief counselors were on campus to help any students in need until 3 p.m. Those counsellors will be available again from the morning of July 7 at Parma high. According to Cleveland.com, a school district spokesperson said “[Sergey] was a member of the football team, peer mentor, student worker, and all around great kid.” An official statement from the district read:

We regret to inform you of a terrible tragedy that has occurred today. After football practice, a few of our players decided to swim in the pond on State Road. One of our students drowned. Sergey Pivovarnik was a Junior at PSH, scheduled to enroll in the Medical program at Normandy next year. He was a member of the football team, peer mentor, student worker, and all around great kid.

Please know that grief counselors are available at the Parma Senior High Little Theater until 3:00 today, and will be available again from 9:00-noon tomorrow and for as long as they are needed. Please make sure your children are aware that help is available for them if they need it. We will share additional information as it becomes available. Thank you.

4. He Had Been Swimming With His Football Friends

The Fox Cleveland report states that Pivovarnik had been swimming with fellow football players. On Hudl, he’s listed as a varsity player at the school. His most watched clip on the site came against his future school, Normandy (above).

5. Pivovarnik Is Being Mourned on Twitter

The fallen high school football star is being mourned openly on Twitter with friends calling him someone who “always brought laughter and happiness.” We’ve collected some of the most poignant here: