Martin Bech, a former college football player, was among 15 victims identified in the New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
The United States is mourning its dead this Thursday after the vehicle-ramming attack which left 15 dead and 35 injured on the night of the New Year in the streets of New Orleans.
Beyond the postponement of the Sugar Bowl, an American football match between two university franchises planned in Louisiana, and the beautiful tribute from the Pelicans in the NBA, US sport also learned of the death of Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech among the victims of the assault on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.
“A fierce competitor with endless energy, a valued teammate and a caring friend”
Former player of the Princeton Tigers and only 27 years old, Martin Bech participated for two years (2016-2018) in NCAA matches, the American university championship, via the Ivy League as a return specialist on kicks. opposing foot. Martin Bech also scored three touchdowns as a receiver for the famous establishment’s team.
“There was no more appropriate nickname for a Princeton player that I coached,” greeted Bob Surace, his former coach, quoted by the university website. “He was a Tiger in every way – a fierce competitor with boundless energy, a valued teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about the pride I felt about his progress during his years at Princeton and the success he had after graduating. My love goes out to the entire Bech family.”
A player from Louisiana
In the aftermath of this tragedy, and after the surprise of this death in the streets of New Orleans, the university blog paid even more tribute to Martin Bech.
“The Tigers Blog woke up to news of the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, with reports of at least 10 people killed. It wasn’t until several hours later that he saw the news that really hit Princeton closely: former football player Tiger Bech was among those murdered. Bech was only 27 years old. He graduated in 2021,” we can read on the Princeton sports team website. . “Why happened to someone so young, why was he just on a trip to New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s Eve at one of the most iconic entertainment venues in the country. If he worked at New York, Bech was originally from Louisiana.”
Before adding: “His first name was Martin, a name that no one used. Maybe never. He had been nicknamed Tiger even before he was born, mainly because of the close family ties that linked him to the university Louisiana State.”
