Matt’s Story
Matthew J. Stratman was a son, brother, friend and athlete. He loved the Lord. He loved his friends and family. He loved LIFE! Matt was a triplet: Eva, Tom and Matt. He was a big brother to Katie.
Matt loved sports since he could hold a ball. From an early age, Matt wanted to play football . . . pads and all! We started him and his triplet bother Tom in flag football to learn the basics and fundamentals of the game.
Stallions Football was the introduction of full contact football for the boys. Matt was thrilled. Matt made some of his best and dearest friends through this organization. Matt along with three other teammates were awarded the Trent Todd Award for playing with the league all eligible years.
Plains Junior High Football was the beginning of Lakota West Football Fever. He loved his coaches; loved the team. Matt’s off-season was spent playing recreational Thunderbirds Basketball with his “Peeps” in winter. Spring was a season of trying new sports. Track lasted a season in 7th grade with his “peeps”, but soon he found lacrosse. It became his new love. “Mom, lacrosse is great! I can run all over and hit guys with sticks.’’ So Matt . . . he thought that was hilarious. Matt was a good athlete, but lacrosse was a natural fit.
It is high school! Freshman football, Friday Night Lights football in the high school student section, Homecoming Dance, Foreign Language classes, art classes where he made several cool and unique ornaments and sculptures, meeting new people and deepening friendships. On many levels, we considered Matt to be a Renaissance kid. Matt was the kid that wanted to be with his friends above anything else. He could not sit and watch a movie, take naps in the middle of the day or read a book. Matt was always on. He loved to keep active. With a tracker on his phone, we could see him ride through the neighborhoods stopping at friends’ homes along the way. Matt would collect a pack of friends and they would ride for hours.
That spring brought football weight training and lacrosse at Lakota West. Busy and exciting for Matt. He was falling in love with lacrosse (just as he was with football) and was seeing a future playing for years to come. He loved the atmosphere of the lacrosse culture. Lacrosse was a family. He played just two seasons. During Matt’s freshman year at Lakota West, he was called to play varsity in several games; his first varsity goal was on his home field as a freshman.
Matt was sad realizing his favorite seniors would not be playing with him next year . . . but summer was looking bright as he had signed up to play with friends on the Velocity Travel Team. He never wore that uniform.
June 9th, 2018 was the last time Matt played on the Lakota West field. He was laughing and having a great time playing in the Lacrosse Alumni Game. It was all in fun and he was just happy to be there! Matt collapsed in the stadium after the team picture was taken. Teammates carried him to the shade as the ambulance was called. Matt asked, “Mom, hold my hand”, then he went unconscious.
Matt spent 21 days in a coma at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He had an undiagnosed AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) an abnormal connection of arteries and veins. This AVM ruptured on his brain stem.
Matt passed away as the sun was rising on June 30th, 2018.
The one thing we knew about Matt was his love of people. His love was evident in the outpouring of support during and after his hospital stay. The support from the Lakota School District and the entire community was simply overwhelming during that summer. We are still in awe. How did 15-year-old young man bring this community together as one? We believe it was how he treated people in friendship and in kindness. Because of his spirit, we want to continue Matt’s legacy through the Matthew J. Stratman Foundation.
Matt is at peace. He is in Heaven and he is whole. We know this to be true.
“Matt loved the game, but never more than those who played.”
