BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
Nearly two weeks have passed, and the Mercedes community still can’t believe it. David Gobellan, a former Tigers linebacker, was riding a bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle along Mile 2 East in Mercedes on Sept. 6.
Gobellan was hospitalized and died four days later.
“When we got the information, I was shocked and saddened,” Mercedes coach Roger Adame Jr. said. “He’s a great kid. We knew him as a competitor and a fighter. He was a committed individual to whatever he put his mind to, whether it was academics or athletics. He was determined to see things through and give everything that he had.”
Gobellan was a two-year letterman on the football team and also suited up for the boys basketball squad. The memories people like Adame Jr. have of Gobellan won’t be for a tackle or jump shot.
“His faith was very strong,” Adame Jr. said. “He was involved in the church, and he gave a lot of his energy for his church. I also remember he tore his ACL during his senior year, and he was at practice every single day on crutches or in a wheelchair. He couldn’t attend one of our games because he had to get surgery on game day. He was really hurt that he couldn’t be there with his team. But that next Monday, he was back at practice. David was mature beyond his years.”
Gobellan graduated from Mercedes in 2017. The day after Gobellan was struck, a football helmet was passed around each sideline during Mercedes’ home opener against McAllen Rowe. Tigers and Warriors players signed it and wrote their best wishes for Gobellan.
Buckets were also passed around the stands for anyone who wanted to donate to the Gobellan family. Adame Jr. said nearly $1,400 was raised that night.
“The family was able to get those donations because of the (McAllen) Rowe and Mercedes fans,” Adame Jr. said. “They couldn’t do much, but they opened up their hearts.”
Gobellan was 19 years old when he passed. He would have turned 20 on Sept. 15.