Samuel Allen, a promising soccer player from Corona, California, tragically passed away on January 29, 2025, after choking while eating.
Anita Oviedo, who worked at the Santiago High School, recalled seeing Samuel Allen at lunch the day before his passing.
Highlights
- The soccer coach at Santiago High School shared that one of his players, Zoe’s boyfriend, Samuel Allen, passed away due to choking.
- While Zoe was on the call with Samuel, he began choking while eating, and tragically, his parents weren’t home.
- Coach Trevino described Samuel as a hardworking, highly talented young player with a bright future.
She had known him since he started as a freshman at Santiago High School, and he would always come to see her for his food.
She described him as a sweet boy and expressed how his loss devastated the Shark community.
I work at Santiago and just saw him at lunch yesterday. I have been there since he started as a Freshman. He always came to see me at lunch to get his food. Such a sweet boy. This is a gut punch to our Shark community and we lift his family in prayer.
Anita Oviedo
He played for the Santiago High School Varsity Boys Soccer team (Corona Sharks), wearing jersey number 14 as a midfielder.
Samuel was part of the class of 2026. In addition to his high school career, he played for LF Legends FC ECRL 07 in Chino, California, from 2022 to 2024.
Coach, Family, And Friends Mourn The Loss of A Talented Soccer Player, Samuel Allen
Jesse Hardeman, the soccer coach at Santiago High School, shared the heartbreaking news that one of his players, Zoe’s boyfriend, Samuel Allen, passed away on January 29, 2025.
While they were on the phone, he began choking while eating, and tragically, his parents weren’t home.
Facebook family….I’m asking for ur prayers. This is a tough day for me. Just found out 1 of my HS players boyfriend passed away last night. While they were on the phone he started choking while eating. His parents weren’t home and she rushed over to his house and found he passed away. Unfortunately he choked to death. He was a soccer player with a playing in college future. She’s been playing for me for 2 yrs and I’ve known her even longer and her boyfriend as well as they both were apart of my club.
Jesse Hardeman
Boys and girl teams both have a games tonite and if we play this will be tough for both. If we play it will be with heavy hearts and we’ll be playing for you both.
Never take a minute of your life for granted. I know Tuesday night when he last played no one knew that that would be his last game and that hits me hard.
His girlfriend Zoe rushed to his house, only to find that he had passed away.
The teams had games that night, and Coach Hardeman expressed how difficult it was to play, but they did it with heavy hearts, honoring him and his girlfriend.
He reminded everyone to never take life for granted, as no one knew 28 January’s night would be his last game.
Similarly, Coach Carlos Trevino expressed condolences to the Allen family, Santiago High School, Future FC, and the Legends FC community.
Id like to offer my condolences to the Allen family, Santiago HS, Future FC & the Legends FC community. I had the privilege of coaching Samuel for a lot of years from his first year in club to high school. A hard working highly talented kid with a bright future. To my B07 parents & players thank you for being there all these years. My thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Carlos Trevino
RIP Samuel Allen. A great kid gone way too soon but never forgotten.
He shared that he had the privilege of coaching Samuel Allen for many years, from his first year in club soccer through high school.
Coach Trevino described Samuel as a hardworking, highly talented young player with a bright future.
He thanked the B07 parents and players for their support over the years and offered his thoughts and prayers to everyone affected.
Samuel was remembered as a great kid who was taken too soon but would never be forgotten.
Additional Information
- Since Samuel Allen was part of the class of 2026, he would have been around 16 at the time of passing.
- After the game on 31st January, the high school took victory pictures under the scoreboard, displaying Samuel’s memorable image.
- A candlelight ceremony was held at Santiago High School’s field in memory of Samuel Allen.
