Rice Owls former soccer player Claire Tracy died by suicide, according to Houston-area medical examiners.
The 19-year-old sophomore was found dead in her off-campus apartment on Sunday. Now, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences says Tracy died from ‘asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium.’
As for manner of death, the office website has ‘suicide’ listed. The Daily Mail has reached out for further information.
Tracy’s teammates and classmates have been in mourning since her tragic passing. Sophomore forward Dayo Tennyson shared a locker with Tracy during their freshman year and she told the Daily Mail how the team sat in silence after hearing the tragic news.
‘The past 48 hours it’s just a shock, confusion [and] for me personally, it’s just more hurting for her, knowing that was her last resort was just the hardest thing to really deal with.’
Tracy quit the team following her freshman year, having struggled for game time for the Division I Owls. Consequently, Tennyson had not seen as much of Tracy in recent months.
The forward remembered a ‘very polite, very talkative’ girl who was ‘just very full of curiosity and exploring the next chapter of her life.’
The Rice players held a team meeting after learning of Tracy’s death and the past few days have been spent rallying around each other.
‘The coaches left, and Dan – our psychiatrist – left, we all just sat there in silence for a little bit,’ the forward recalls.
‘And then, every little once in a while, somebody would share a memory of Claire – something funny she had said on the field, or something they remember about her.
‘And it just brought the mood [up] a little bit. They were just repeating happy memories and how she was full of life and she was funny.’
Tennyson recalls: ‘There was just one time in the middle of the game, it was actually the funniest thing I remember.’
Their English coach, Brian Lee, was urging his players to move the ball. ‘To the point where he maybe said ‘pass’ eight times in a row, back to back.
‘And then Claire – under her breath, but not really, [as] most of us could hear and I think Brian did as well as he was walking past – said: “I think he wants them to pass.” And we all just broke out laughing.’
Tennyson continued: ‘A common saying was that she was just full of energy in life, very talkative and just authentically herself, basically. That’s the best way I can say it.’
The Rice team has plans to attend a memorial for Tracy, who was from Wisconsin and leaves behind her parents and two siblings. The event is slated for January. ‘We’re all going to show up for her and honor her,’ Tennyson said.
In social media posts before her death, Tracy had revealed how her ‘depression got so bad’ she began working on an investment banking project ‘to prevent myself from having to think.’
Other content reflected feelings of loneliness, while she discussed her struggles with being neurodivergent.
Following the news of her death, soccer coach Lee paid an emotional tribute to the 19-year-old. ‘The entire Rice soccer community mourns the loss of Claire Tracy,’ Lee wrote.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go to Claire’s friends and family and to the many current and former teammates, whose lives were impacted by Claire’s kindness. She will forever be in our hearts.’
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
