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Who was Ally Sidloski? University of Cincinnati soccer player, 21, drowns in Ohio lake after falling from boat

'Sidloski was a standout in the classroom, being named a TopCat scholar in multiple semesters for achieving a 4.0 GPA'

A University of Cincinnati soccer player drowned at a state park in Ohio, on Saturday, May 22, authorities and school officials have said.

Ally Sidloski, 21, was last seen hanging from the platform of a boat on William Harsha Lake when she disappeared into the water on Saturday, May 22, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Her body was later recovered on Sunday, May 23 at 1 am at East Fork State Park, officials said. Around 15 adults, including Sidloski, were on the boat when she disappeared.

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Sidloski's body was found closer to a dam at Harsha Lake, where the water depth is roughly 113 feet. "ODNR reminds watercraft users to operate their equipment responsibly, always wear a life jacket and pay close attention to local conditions and posted advisories," department officials said.

Sidloski started her freshman year in 2018 and made her debut with the Bearcats in 2019, playing in two games. She missed her most recent season due to an injury. Sidloski was an Academic All-AAC honoree after the 2019 season. The school said, “Sidloski was a standout in the classroom, being named a TopCat scholar in multiple semesters for achieving a 4.0 GPA.” According to the Bearcats website, Sidloski hoped to attend the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University after graduation.

"I am absolutely crushed for the Sidloski family, our soccer team and the university," head soccer coach Neil Stafford said. "There are no words for dealing with a tragedy on this scale. Ally was such a pillar of everything that’s right about our program," Stafford said. He also tweeted her picture and wrote: "Not only have we felt the darkness of tragedy but the Light of Love, Empathy & Compassion. I'm moved by the Grace & Strength of the Sidloski Family & the Resiliency of our @GoBEARCATS Family. Ally Sid was a beautiful extraordinary woman, the emotions of so many proved that today."

Sidloski was known as a "great student" and a "gritty and resilient" player on the pitch, Stafford added. The university’s director of athletics, John Cunningham, has asked the mourners to respect the privacy of Sidloski’s teammates and family as they cope with her loss.

Sidloski, a Strongsville High School student is survived by her parents and two sisters. It is not clear why Sidloski was not wearing her life vest and whether wearing life vests are mandatory at the lake.