2008 Woodie Awards
Basketball captain mourns brother
By Mike Mallory
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Sports
The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team opens up the 2005 regular season in mid-November, but for senior captain Amber McFeely, her greatest challenge won't come on the court this year.
McFeely's brother, Kyle, also a senior at the university, was killed in a car accident Friday night in Mercer County.
Now the task for McFeely is to bring her life back to a sense of normalcy with the loss of not only her brother, but also someone she called her best friend in the world.
"Things will never be back to normal, because he was my best friend," McFeely said.
Kyle was an Army National Guardsman for roughly five years. McFeely said he was also heavily involved with religion.
"I knew he was strong in his faith and that he wanted to be with God, but it's hard because I miss him a lot," McFeely said.
McFeely said a week before her brother passed away he said he wanted to talk to her after class. She said he told her he had a dream the night before and saw heaven, but his sister and their parents weren't there.
Kyle then told his sister it's important for her to truly be faithful and believe in God.
With a look of comfort in her eye, McFeely said the only thing she can accept is that she knows her brother is in a safe place.
"He's reached his goal of where he wanted to be," McFeely said. "I always respected him for his faith. It's a comfort to know where he's at and that he's safe."
Preparing for Midnight Madness Wednesday night at Morrow Field House, McFeely said it helps her to remain busy during this time of grief.
"Basketball is like a freedom zone for me and to try to get me focused on something else," McFeely said.
Wearing the initials KM on the back of her tennis shoes, McFeely said she dedicates the 2005 season to her brother. She also said her brother would want her to continue to live life each day, continuing the faith in which Kyle strongly believed.
"If anything he would want me to continue what I'm doing and try to get his message across that he wants everybody to believe," McFeely said.
McFeely's brother, Kyle, also a senior at the university, was killed in a car accident Friday night in Mercer County.
Now the task for McFeely is to bring her life back to a sense of normalcy with the loss of not only her brother, but also someone she called her best friend in the world.
"Things will never be back to normal, because he was my best friend," McFeely said.
Kyle was an Army National Guardsman for roughly five years. McFeely said he was also heavily involved with religion.
"I knew he was strong in his faith and that he wanted to be with God, but it's hard because I miss him a lot," McFeely said.
McFeely said a week before her brother passed away he said he wanted to talk to her after class. She said he told her he had a dream the night before and saw heaven, but his sister and their parents weren't there.
Kyle then told his sister it's important for her to truly be faithful and believe in God.
With a look of comfort in her eye, McFeely said the only thing she can accept is that she knows her brother is in a safe place.
"He's reached his goal of where he wanted to be," McFeely said. "I always respected him for his faith. It's a comfort to know where he's at and that he's safe."
Preparing for Midnight Madness Wednesday night at Morrow Field House, McFeely said it helps her to remain busy during this time of grief.
"Basketball is like a freedom zone for me and to try to get me focused on something else," McFeely said.
Wearing the initials KM on the back of her tennis shoes, McFeely said she dedicates the 2005 season to her brother. She also said her brother would want her to continue to live life each day, continuing the faith in which Kyle strongly believed.
"If anything he would want me to continue what I'm doing and try to get his message across that he wants everybody to believe," McFeely said.
