An Ohio State men’s soccer player is recovering after being shot off-campus on December 8 following his team’s victory in the NCAA tournament.
Nathan Demian, 22, a junior defender from Vancouver, Canada, was shot on Chittenden Avenue, just east of the Ohio State campus.
Highlights
- An hour before the shooting, Demian helped the top-seeded Buckeyes secure a 3-0 win over Wake Forest in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.
- Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork supported Demian on social media, offering his thoughts and prayers to him and his family.
- In his junior year, Demian did not compete due to an injury.
Columbus police report that the shooting took place just before 2:30 a.m. during a car chase, with one vehicle shooting at the other.
But, Demian, who was not involved in the incident, was shot and rushed to the hospital in serious condition.
Police have confirmed he is now recovering, with his parents, David and Ruth Demian, and six siblings- Daniel, Rachel, Michael, Anna, Ben, and Joel by his side.
Coming from a sporty family, Nathan’s siblings and cousins are involved in athletics in Canada and the U.S. His cousin, Joel Harrison, plays soccer for Michigan.
Students Express Concern Over Recent Shootings In Area Where Nathan Demian Was Shot
People in the area mentioned that this wasn’t the first shooting nearby this semester.
A recent OSU graduate, Mia Iacampo, said there was a shooting on December 2, one in the afternoon and another later in the evening.
She also mentioned that she’s woken up to gunshots several times since moving there.
Students living in the area fear it could have happened to anyone walking around.
OSU senior Kylie Kirkpatrick shared that it’s frightening to think someone could be shot just by being out on their own.
A few hours before the shooting, Demian played in the game that led the top-seeded Buckeyes to a 3-0 victory over Wake Forest in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
After sitting out last season due to injury, Demian has started 14 games this year, including three postseason matches at home.
Nathan Demian Praised By Coach And Athletic Director: University Offers Support During Recovery
Coach Brian Maisonneuve described Demian as an outstanding teammate, person and player.
He noted that Demian’s performance on the field speaks for itself and that it would be difficult not to have him playing.
Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork also expressed his support for Demian on social media, sending thoughts and prayers to him and his family.
“Nate is an incredible teammate, incredible person and a fantastic player,” coach Brian Maisonneuve said. “He’s got a great voice. He is a character in the best way possible. … His play speaks for itself. He is a competitor and it is going to be tough not to have him out there.”
Ross Bjork
The university has asked the community to keep Nathan in their thoughts and prayers and has pledged to provide ongoing support to him and his family during this challenging period.
After all, he was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team in 2022 and 2023 and earned Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors in 2022 and 2024.
He was also selected to the Wolstein Classic All-Tournament Team in 2022.
In his junior year (2023), Demian did not compete due to an injury.
As a sophomore in 2022, he scored his first career goal, a game-winner against Michigan State, and played in 18 games, logging over 1,400 minutes on the field.
Additionally, as a freshman in 2021, Demian was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen list, ranking No. 36.
He played in all 16 games and contributed to the team with strong defensive performances.
Additional Information
- Nathan Demian attended Burnaby Central Secondary and University Hill Secondary in Vancouver, where he developed his passion for soccer.
- During his time with Team Canada, Nathan served as captain for the U15 team and assistant captain for the U19 squad.
- He’s a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Toronto Raptors and loves watching soccer whenever possible.
- Nathan also enjoys playing video games like FIFA and Mario Kart with his family, snowboarding, and outdoors.
