Orono soccer teams to honor Colton Gleason
Orono soccer teams will hold a Colton Gleason Recognition night Thursday to remember the 2010 Orono graduate and to raise money for a memorial fund.
Gleason, a Minnesota State-Mankato student died in St. Cloud where he was visiting friends. According to reports, he was walking with two female friends in an alley Sept. 20 when a vehicle passed close to the three pedestrians. The vehicle stopped, one passenger got out, according to reports, and punched Gleason in the face, which caused him to fall and hit his head. Gleason was taken to a hospital in St. Cloud where he later died of his injuries.
Reports as of Sept. 25 noted that a 17-year-old Sauk Rapids teenager had been charged in the case. He is reportedly charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree manslaughter and one count of first-degree assault.
During his time at Orono High School, Gleason was a soccer player and in his senior year he led the team as a captain. He wore the number 15 jersey on the field, as had his brothers Steven and Justin before him.
The boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will be at home playing Glencoe-Silver Lake Sept. 27 and that night the teams will take time to honor Gleason.
The girls’ game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. When that game is over, the boys will begin to warm up for their game, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The game clock will be stopped at 15 seconds. At that time, the teams will return to the sidelines and there will be a moment of silence prior to the singing of the national anthem. The team is also retiring the number 15 jersey and at halftime the Gleason family will be presented with a jersey.
T-shirts honoring Gleason will be sold at the game and all proceeds will go toward a plaque honoring him that will be placed in the Orono Stadium.
