from CNN
bleacherreport.com/.../2045263-alabama-swimmer-john-servati-passes-away-in-alabama-tornadoes
A violent weather system stretching across the South has
claimed at least 12 lives due to severe storms and tornadoes. Alabama swimmer
John Servati was one of those killed, the school confirmed
Tuesday.
Alabama spokesman Shane Dorrill said the junior freestyle and backstroke
specialist was injured during a storm near the Tuscaloosa, AL campus and died at
a local hospital on Monday night, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com. Dorrill also stated
that the athlete's girlfriend was able to escape without being hurt.
I understand that he was in a house off-campus and was hit by a retaining
wall. I don't know how it happened. I do know he was with his girlfriend and she
is uninjured.
Schlabach noted a similar string of severe weather caused billions of dollars
worth of damage in the Tuscaloosa area about three years ago. Former Crimson
Tide football Carson Tinker, who is currently the Jacksonville Jaguars long
snapper, was injured and his girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, was killed.
The Tupelo, Mississippi, native competed in the SEC Championships in both of
his first two seasons at Alabama, according to his profile on the school's athletics site. He also was named to the Dean's List both
years and earned a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll as a sophomore.
Andrew Gribble of AL.com provided further information about
Servati's decorated swimming career. He set several state records, helped lead
his high school to four straight state titles and was named the Tupelo Sports
Council Athlete of the Year twice:
Setting multiple state records, Servati helped lead his Tupelo High team to
four consecutive Mississippi State championships. He was named the Tupelo Sports
Council Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
An account run by the coaching staff of the University of Alabama swimming
and diving team sent out a message of condolence after the tragic loss was
confirmed by the school:
All our thoughts and prayers are with the Servati family and the Tupelo
community. We all have a place in our hearts where John will live on
— UA
Swim & Dive (@CrimsonTideSwim) April 29,
2014
Servati was 21.
