KINGWOOD, W.Va. — More than 100 people attended a memorial ceremony for Preston County athlete Lane Sines. The nine-year-old died unexpectedly Monday, according to the state police.
Sines was active in wrestling and football and was coached by Devin Taylor for the last five years in the Preston County Youth Football Program.
“I was a mentor to him throughout with my responsibilities as a coach,” Taylor said. “He’s been one of my little boy’s best friends, and I’ve loved watching him grow over the years—he was a heck of a little football player.”
This year at the Buckwheat Festival, Sines showed two market hogs as a first-year member of 4-H, according to Preston County Commissioner and Vice President of the Preston County Livestock Association, Samantha Stone.
“Always the life of the party,” Stone said. “In the market hog barn, those kids are right on top of each other, and they take so much pride in their projects.”
Taylor said Sines was always upbeat, was respectful, and was always kind. He developed strong friendships because of his attitude, and those he touched are hurting right now, according to Taylor.
“He had a smile that would brighten up the world,” Taylor said. “The little man is definitely going to be missed on the football field, in the classroom, and in any other activity he’s been a part of.”
A GoFundMe page has been established to support the family, and Taylor encourages people to reach out and provide support to the family.
“Find the family’s GoFundMe page and donate to that if you’re able to, or reach out to the West Preston Football League,” Taylor said. “We can take donations and make sure the family gets them, and most importantly, don’t forget Lane.”
Stone urged the community to come together to support the family and never the little person Lane was.
“Learning what we learned from Lane’s life, even though it was cut drastically short,” Stone said. “He’s a shining example of how we should live our lives.”