Rattlers game canceled after student's death

Tucumcari Public Schools has canceled Friday night’s scheduled football game against McCurdy after a TPS student died Saturday night.

The district was sending five or six counselors to school to help grieving students this week, said high school Principal Nicole Bright-Lesly.

District officials did not identify the student publicly, but several said he was a freshman member of the football team.

The student died at his home, they said.

The Tucumcari Invitational volleyball tournament will continue to be played later this week. The event will serve as a fundraiser for the boy’s family.

A varsity-only volleyball game at West Las Vegas set for Aug. 28 instead will be played on Sept. 6.

Tucumcari’s cross country teams were scheduled to run in season-opening events Friday in the Clovis Invitational. Whether those teams will participate remains uncertain.