Sept. 20, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - The University of Northern Colorado Department of Athletics is mourning the loss of former football and wrestling student-athlete Sam Safken who lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Safken was 21 years old.

Safken, a native of Grand Junction, played football for the Bears during the 2004 season, seeing action in 10 games at defensive line as a true freshman. He was also a member of the Bears wrestling squad, posting a 7-13 record as a heavyweight. He attended Fruita Monument High School in Grand Junction where he led his football team to the state playoffs as a senior and was a state champion on the wrestling mat.

A memorial for Safken will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Fruita High School in Grand Junction.

"Everyone in our department is saddened by the loss of Sam and our thoughts are with his family," said Northern Colorado Director of Athletics Jay S. Hinrichs. "Anyone who spent time with Sam and got to know him knows what a great person he was and how hard he fought over the course of his illness."

"We lost a great young man who we hardly got a chance to know," said head wrestling coach Jack Maughan. "I really feel for his family and my thoughts and prayers are with them."

Safken was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in June 2005. Ewing's Sarcoma is a cancer that can develop anywhere in the body, but most often it starts in the bone. Named after Dr. James Ewing, who described the tumor in the 1920s, Ewing's Sarcoma is found most often in the pelvis, thigh bone and shin bone. Symptoms usually start when an individual is in their teens, and it more commonly affects males. It is related to rapid bone growth, which is why it is more often seen in teenagers. Like other cancers, it is not infectious, and cannot be passed to other people.