Westlake mourns football player, Julius Poppinga
On Aug. 30, Julius Poppinga, junior at Westlake High School, passed away in the hospital. Poppinga had been hospitalized the previous week for a severe asthma attack.The Ventura County Star reported that he suffered from a collapsed lung in the hospital as a result of the attack and never fully recovered.
As a result of his asthma attack, Poppinga was unable to play following the season opener game on Aug. 18. Since his death, a large memorial of flowers and pictures has grown outside the school. The school mourns Poppinga for everything he was to the school, a varsity football player, a friend and a brother. His sister, Jasmine Poppinga, posted on Instagram expressing her feelings, “Words can not even begin to describe the immense amount of love, kindness, compassion, humor, athleticism, knowledge, trustworthiness, consideration for others, sincerity, loyalty, and friendly characteristics Julius holds,” Jasmine Poppinga said.
Poppinga was the son of former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion Brady Poppinga. He posted about his son following the tragedy, “I would like to thank EVERYONE for their unbelievably beautiful, sweet and loving compassion sent our way. Julius is a special soul who has touched so many lives. He is missed, but we KNOW that through the Savior, we will see him and be with him again. #famliesareforever,” Brady Poppinga said.
As Westlake High School mourns this great loss, the CVUSD community as a whole continues to support each other and the family throughout this difficult time.
