Memorial game played for beloved lacrosse player, coach
Jan 12, 2025, 8:53 PM | Updated: 10:38 pm
DRAPER — A part of Utah’s sports community is celebrating the life of a beloved athlete. Lacrosse player Marcus Gundersen died unexpectedly late last year.
A loud crowd gathered to memorialize him in a special way Sunday night. The Utes played against the Wasatch Whalers at Sports City, where many came to support the family of a man who wasn’t just a player, but also a mentor to many.
Gundersen, 21, unexpectedly died on Nov. 27, 2024. According to his obituary, he passed from a pulmonary thromboembolism.
“Unfortunately, just came out of nowhere, and as soon as everybody heard it, it broke everyone’s hearts,” his girlfriend of four years, Hailey Bangerter said.
Bangerter said she was not surprised by the turnout for the memorial game. A moment of silence was held in Gundersen’s memory.
“I feel like it’s one of the biggest sports families and most loving sports families that you could be a part of,” Bangerter said.
The Wasatch Whalers all wore Gundersen’s name on their jerseys. Every ticket sold went to benefit his family.
Bangerter said he had a huge impact on lacrosse in Utah. Gundersen coached high school and club teams, worked at camps, and taught private lessons.
“He just wanted to expand it as much as possible,” Bangerter said.
Gundersen also played on multiple teams in different leagues, but Bangerter said coaching was his passion.
“He would eat, sleep, and breathe lacrosse,” Bangerter said. “He would just find any sort of program or camp that he could go to, again, to just help out these kids and teach them the way of lacrosse.”
Every cheer and message to number 88 did not go unnoticed. Their favorite teammate will live in their memory forever.
“Everyone, even if they met him once, wanted to be here to support and just kind of see his legacy play on,” Bangerter said.