11 months ago
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REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE) - Malachi Rios was a fighter. That's the archetypal happening radical say. He fought for his presumption arsenic a starter connected the Reedley High shot squad and helium fought for his beingness portion battling cancer.
Malachi died Monday astatine 18 years old.
Tony Gates is the Reedley High shot coach. He says Malachi acceptable the barroom precocious for what it means to beryllium a shot player, a student, and a friend.
"He was 1 of, if not, the toughest players I've ever coached," Gates said.
Malachi's friends and teammates noticed his effort too.
"Every time helium would conscionable travel retired present and conscionable work, enactment work," teammate Salvador Mendoza said.
And they loved him for his humor.
Daren Ortiz had been friends with Malachi since the sixth grade. They graduated unneurotic soon earlier Malchai passed.
"I would accidental Malachi was decidedly a jokester," Otriz said and for a little moment, his grief was interrupted by a representation of Malachi.
William Bacon played shot with Malachi. Bacon remembers Malachi arsenic a person and a supportive person erstwhile Bacon moved up to varsity arsenic a sophomore.
"He knew everyone had their spot connected the squad and him being much of a skipper role, helium was conscionable welcoming of everyone conscionable to marque america each better," Bacon said.
