“I do believe that he would wake up at 5 o’clock and work out because he had that drive,” said Silva. Last Friday, the coach said, Rivera was likely heading to the school’s weight room before going to class.
“Anything we did, he’d be one of the first ones when we run, always willing to help out the team,” said Sylva. Sylva said he was a beloved big brother, as well as a respectful person who gave his all with a positive attitude when facing new challenges. The coach said Rivera, a punter with the Southridge Spartans, was hitting his stride on and off the field. “Something so real is finding out one of your players is not there anymore, knowing that a few hours he was playing a game.” Disbelief was one of the first things that came to my mind, like getting kicked in the gut, you know?” said Silva.
Speaking with 7News on Sunday, Victor Silva, the victim’s coach at Southridge Senior High School, said the teen never missed a practice. The news of the crash that took the life of 17-year-old Justin Rivera in Southwest Miami-Dade, Friday morning, dealt a heavy blow to family members, friends and teammates. (WSVN) - A South Florida high school coach opened up about the loss of one of his players after, police said, he was fatally struck by a driver who fled the scene.
