Matt Lanzer, a sophomore football player at Robertsdale High School who died Saturday, was memorialized during an assembly that was held Monday morning in the school’s gymnasium.

“We are here today to remember one of our own,” said RHS Principal Theresa Bryant. “Matt not only took pride in his school and our football team, but he will be remembered with pride for the type of player and person that he was.”

Coach Scott Phelps reiterated Bryant’s comments as he reflected on his first meeting with Lanzer.

“When I first arrived here two years ago, I went down to Central Baldwin Middle School to invite the members of their team to come and join our program when they moved up to ninth grade,” he said. “Matt was one of the first to come up and tell me he was going to play for me and that one of his goals was to become a Golden Bear.”

Phelps voice broke when he described Lanzer’s attitude at practice, and how another of his player’s goals was to help lead RHS to a state championship one day.

“Matt took pride in our program and was always asking me how he could help,” he said. “That just goes to show you the type of person he was. I want our goal to be that of carrying on Matt’s quest to be a champion.”

Phelps said that during lunch break, where he serves as a monitor in the courtyard, he noticed how joyful Lanzer was when he and his girlfriend, Justa Volovecky, would drop by to speak to him during their lunch.

“We have 82 individuals that represent Robertsdale out on that field each Friday night,” Phelps said. “I know that on future Friday nights I’ll be thinking about Matt, as will we all.”

Both Donnie Lanzer, his father, and Ronnie Smith, his step-father, thanked the student body for their thoughts and prayers since Matthew was taken to Thomas Hospital.

“We appreciate you,” Lanzer said. “Matt will be missed by both his family and his friends here at Robertsdale.”

Smith said that when he arrived home, this past Saturday night the only piece of mail in their postal box was one that contained Matt’s mid-quarter progress report.

“I was proud that he was able to maintain his grades, as well as play football at the same time,” he said.

During Lanzer’s early years he lacked self-confidence, Smith said.

“I credit his teachers and coaches at both Central Baldwin and here at the high school for helping shape him into a leader,” he said. “His teammates helped him so much. When I would drop him off at school I was never worried, because I knew that he would not only be well taken care of, but well taught.”

Initially it was thought the teen’s death was the result of a spider bite, but the county coroner’s office issued autopsy results Monday afternoon that his death was the result of a pulmonary thromboemboli caused by deep vein thrombosis as the result of a blunt trauma to the right leg, possibly caused by an injury received last Monday on the practice field.

Lanzer was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Thomas Hospital on Friday after it was noticed that he couldn’t move his arms or legs. Lanzer saw a local physician who placed him on antibiotics a week ago.

Family members said he felt well enough to go to football practice on Sept. 3, but that things went “downhill” from that point. Lanzer was pronounced dead at approximately 7 a.m. this past Saturday morning, as school administrators, teachers, teammates and friends awaited a condition report in the waiting room.

Jonathan “Roadie” Comalander, Lanzer’s best friend told the assembled students that Lanzer was more like a brother than a best friend.

“Matt lived his dream of being able to play football,” he said. “He loved this team. It was all he would talk about when we would be hanging out together after school. When Robertsdale takes to the field each and every Friday night I know we’ll have a 12th man out there and that will be Matt.”

Volovecky then read a memorial poem as local pastors, youth ministers and counselors from the RHS feeder schools prepared to council those students who felt the need to talk to someone about the tragedy.

The Rev. Jeff Copeland of First Baptist Church in Robertsdale closed the assembly by saying that at times like these people needed to minister to others.

“I encourage you to lean on your friends, that you try to see the presence of God through everything in life, and that the Bible holds a promise that even in times of trouble there is hope.”

Visitation for Lanzer was held Tuesday at Mack Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services were held Wednesday morning at Valhalla Memorial Gardens in Eight Mile.