A 19-year-old from Greater Cincinnati was killed Saturday afternoon during a track and field competition outside Chicago.

Ethan Roser, a Mason High School graduate and freshman at Wheaton College, was volunteering at the competition, the college said in a statement.

At about 4:15 p.m., a hammer accidentally hit him during a hammer throw event. The "hammer" in hammer throw is a metal ball -- 16 pounds for men, 8.8 pounds for women -- attached to a grip by a steel wire. Competitors spin around several times before releasing, or "throwing," it.

Paramedics took Roser to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where he was pronounced dead.

Roser graduated from Mason in 2016, according to MaxPreps. At Mason, Roser was a three-year letterman and helped the team to a state title and two regional championships. He played club soccer for Cincinnati United Premier.

"Our hearts are heavy as we absorb the news about this tragedy," a statement from Mason City Schools spokeswoman Tracey Carson said. "All of Ethan's family and friends are in our thoughts as we mourn together."

Carson said the school would have counselors available for students Monday.

Ethan Roser was one of our heroes. We LOVED how much Ethan cared for his Mason friends to learn more about the life of Jesus Christ. pic.twitter.com/pVDlLBNxa6 — Mason Young Life (@MasonCometsYL) April 23, 2017

Roser was a transfer student at Wheaton, the college's statement said. Wheaton is a Christian, liberal arts college about 25 miles west of Chicago.

"We are deeply grieved, but, because of our faith in Christ, not without hope," Wheaton College President Philip Ryken said in a statement. "We ask people to pray for Ethan's family, his friends, and our campus community."

WCPO.com/WCPO Insider's Mike Dyer contributed to this report.