Outstanding West Valley athlete loses battle with cancer

SPOKANE, Wash. – A Spokane Valley high school sports star who dreamed of playing football for the University of Idaho has lost his battle with cancer.

Collin Sather was a multi-sport athlete at West Valley High School and graduated in 2018. He was eager to pursue a college career playing football for the University of Idaho.

Sather died of kidney cancer (kidney) just after midnight Tuesday morning.

Sather a redshirt for the Vandal football team last fall. In January, he began to have stomach pains and was rushed to the hospital. A few days later, he started dialysis and chemotherapy for advanced kidney cancer.

His U of I family rallied around him. "Collin is an amazing young man, he is a talented student, a loyal teammate and a friend of many members of our University of Ottawa community," said the University President of the University of Ottawa. Ottawa, Chuck Staben. "He and his family have the love and support of the whole vandal family in the fight."

Despite several weeks of treatment, the cancer spread to her lungs and neck.

Sunday night, Sather High School basketball coach posted on social media: "His kidney specialist doctor (nephrologist) gave Collin one to two weeks. I'm afraid he does not know Collin or the power of prayer. So, I ask you all, please, pray.

On Tuesday afternoon, the University of Idaho issued a statement regarding the death of Sather.

"On behalf of the Vandal family, our deepest condolences go out to Collin's family and loved ones," said Acting Athletics Director Pete Isakson. "Collin has had a profound impact on the lives of those he has touched in our department and on campus. The loss of a 19 year old is hard to understand and we are here for anyone who needs help during this difficult time. "

Sather had just turned 19 on Sunday.

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