MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.C. — The Guilford College and Grimsley High communities are mourning the death of a college football player after a tragic water accident.
Guilford College confirms Ahmad Brewington, 20, was the young man who died. He played football for the school. The Montgomery County Sheriff's office said he died after jumping off a rock into a reservoir Monday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office said a group of Guilford College students were at the Tuckertown Reservoir Monday when Brewington never resurfaced from the water. The students called for help around 4:00 p.m. Emergency crews and rescue squads from Montgomery, Stanly and Davidson counties searched for him in the water in an area near Tuckertown Dam Road and an intersection at NC HWY 49. There were 10 students there from Guilford College, according to the sheriff’s office. Brewington's body was recovered three hours later. Officials said the site where the incident occurred is land owned by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and was recently acquired by the Alcoa Hydro Electric.
Brewington is from Greensboro. He also played football for Grimsley High School before graduating in 2018.
Grimsley High Football tweeted, "Heartbroken over the loss of one of our brothers, Ahmad Brewington. He was the most selfless player that has come thru our program. His leadership & servant attitude sparked the resurgence of WHIRLIE FOOTBALL! Our prayers are with his family & football family at this time! #Five0"
Guilford College Football tweeted, "Rest In Peace to Our Brother."
About 200 Guilford College students gathered Tuesday morning to remember him. A private vigil will be held for students, staff, and family and friends Wednesday on the lawn in the Quad.
Chick-fil-A at Battleground also honored Brewington and left a special table for him in his memory posting the following on Facebook:
"Today for team member Tuesday, we will be honoring one of our own, Ahmad Brewington. He passed away yesterday, and he will be greatly missed. Ahmad played football for Guilford College, and was studying public health. If you seen him at Chick-fil-A, he always had a frosted lemonade in hand. His smile was contagious and he will be missed! Please lift up his family in your prayers."