TEN DAYS after the Cougs beat Miami in the Sun Bowl, Riley Sorenson’s father, Bart, passed away Tuesday afternoon in El Paso according to the wife of a Sun Bowl board membe...

April Lamphere Rystad, who set up the GoFundMe page for Sorenson and his family, put up this post on Tuesday afternoon.



“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I bring this update. This afternoon at around 4 pm Bart passed away. The family thanks everyone for the prayers and well wishes. Please continue to pray for comfort during these very difficult times for Riley, Will, Elizabeth, Karen and the rest of the family. May God bring blessings to all that have helped and wrap his arms around the family so they know they are not alone.”



It is the second time this season a Cougar starter has suffered a family tragedy. Senior wide receiver Dom Williams lost his grandmother, who raised him, before the Oregon game.



Sorenson, who was about to start at center in the Sun Bowl for WSU, was told about his father’s heart attack just before the game and left for the hospital. The Sorenson family had stayed there since according to the GoFundMe page, with the elder Sorenson in a coma. Sorenson’s mother, Karen, according to the page, is dealing with late stage cancer.



The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $63,100 for Sorenson and his family to help with medical bills and other expenses. WSU was able to became a sponsor of the page this past weekend, enabling the fundraising to become compliant in the eyes of the NCAA.



Sorenson, a third-year junior, started 11 regular season games for Washington State at the center spot, missing only the Colorado tilt with what is thought to have been an injury.



The GoFundMe page is located here.