A 19-year-old Saint Mary’s College rugby player has died after collapsing during a training run in Moraga, California, leaving teammates mourning an athlete remembered for his talent, kindness and love of the sport.
Dominic Peterson, who was beginning his sophomore year, suffered a medical emergency during the team’s first practice of the season on Friday, 4 September. The college has not disclosed the cause of death, and his family is awaiting further information from the medical examiner.
The squad had set off on a run of less than two miles, a routine workout carried out several times each year. Teammates said Peterson appeared to be in peak physical condition and had not complained of feeling unwell.
Matthew Abbes, the team captain, said he had spoken to Peterson shortly before the run and expected him to be among the fastest finishers. When Peterson did not appear, Abbes was told that he had collapsed near a pull-up bar and ran back to help.
Mario Storti, a former Saint Mary’s captain who was assisting with the session, said he had been cycling behind the group when he saw Peterson fall. He said Peterson initially asked for help to continue before deteriorating and collapsing again.
Storti called the emergency services and began performing CPR, using his lifeguard training, with assistance from others at the scene.
Tributes paid to Saint Mary’s rugby player
Saint Mary’s College president Roger J Thompson described Peterson’s death as “a heartbreaking loss for our entire community” and extended his sympathies to the player’s family, teammates, coaches, classmates and staff.
Abbes said Peterson had continued fighting after collapsing, describing him as someone who “never backed down from any challenge”.
“Just by the way he brought light to any room he walked into, he’s a person that always has a smile on his face,” Abbes said.
Storti remembered Peterson as “genuinely the nicest guy”, adding that he was “always smiling” and “always joking around”. He said Peterson’s family had spoken about how much he cared for Saint Mary’s rugby and head coach Tim O’Brien.
Peterson grew up in Los Altos Hills and attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto. Before joining Saint Mary’s, he spent eight years with the East Palo Alto Razorhawks rugby programme, which he had described as a second home.
He had also represented the United States in the under-19 men’s team that won the Rugby Americas North Championship during the summer. A 2026 College Rugby Association of America squad list named him among the forwards selected for the tournament.
Saint Mary’s held a memorial Mass for Peterson on Saturday, 5 September. His teammates are due to return to training on Tuesday, 8 September, for the first time since his death.
The college said counselling and other support services had been made available to students, faculty and staff. Messages of support have also been sent by rugby teams from across the United States.
At the request of Peterson’s family, Saint Mary’s has established the Dominic Peterson Memorial Fund. The college said donations would support the Gaels men’s rugby programme and provide opportunities and experiences for student-athletes in the rugby community he loved.
