CWRU neighborhood mourns lack of student-athlete Emil LaSida | CWRU Newsroom

As Emil LaSida stood behind the blocks on the 2025 NCAA National Championships, he locked in on the race forward: a head-to-head swim-off within the 50 free, considered one of his specialties, to clinch a spot in finals. LaSida not solely secured the win by 5 one-hundredths of a second—he additionally surpassed his personal Case Western Reserve University Men’s Swimming & Diving report with a time of 19.98, turning into the primary at school historical past to interrupt 20 seconds within the dash occasion.

“It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen one of my athletes do,” Head Coach Doug Milliken mentioned of the race. “He was just beaming. You could have seen his smile from a mile away.”

It’s a core reminiscence that, for a lot of, epitomizes LaSida: pushed, devoted and at all times prepared with a vivid smile. And it’s one which his Spartan swim crew household—and his family members from world wide—are remembering at present as they mourn LaSida, who died Sept. 15 on the age of 21.

LaSida got here to Case Western Reserve University in 2022 from Alexandria, Virginia, the place he was a captain of his highschool swimming and diving crew and earned accolades corresponding to The Washington Post All Met Honorable Mention for being a high swimmer within the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia space. 

At Case Western Reserve, he studied pc engineering and shaped deep friendships, particularly with fellow swimmers.

William Froass, for instance, met LaSida throughout orientation week. Their friendship grew via engineering courses and the swim crew, together with late nights spent as roommates on crew highway journeys.

“Emil made every moment lighter, funnier and better just by being there,” Froass mentioned. “His kindness and respect for everyone set an example I truly admired and continue to look up to.”

Adam Khatib, too, met LaSida upon move-in. Quickly, the 2 turned shut—staying up taking part in pool, speaking within the Taft frequent rooms and “debating inane questions,” Khatib recalled of his quiet, witty and exceptionally useful good friend.

“Emil always had the solution for whatever problem you were facing. … Whenever there was any sort of ‘tool’ that you needed—a time pressure checker, printer, bowls/utensils, pen or paper, literally anything—he had it,” Khatib mentioned. “He was just the type of person to always have what you need, and would be the quiet, reliable person you wanted in your corner, always willing to assist you.”

LaSida constantly constructed robust connections with others round him—whether or not he was mentoring different swimmers or taking photographs on the pool deck.

“Emil was one of those athletes that every coach would want: He always worked hard, he had a great attitude and was a very respectful person,” Milliken mentioned. “And then you couple that with the talent that he had—it was amazing.”

That expertise was plain: LaSida held seven Case Western Reserve University data, three of which had been particular person occasions (50 free, 100 free and 100 again) and 4 of which had been relays (each 200 and 400 medley and free relays). 

Relays, Milliken mentioned, had been a favourite of LaSida’s. Whether he was main off the medley relay together with his backstroke or anchoring a free relay, the crew might at all times depend on LaSida’s swimming prowess—and limitless encouragement of others.

“We always knew if we were close in a relay or if we knew we needed a win, especially in the 50 free, Emil was going to do everything he could to get that for us,” Milliken mentioned. “He was lightning fast. It was just mesmerizing to watch.”

Milliken and swim crew members famous LaSida led by instance—at all times keen to chip in with on-deck duties, put within the exhausting work at follow and encourage his teammates.

“As an athlete, he was the best of us. He gave everything he had every practice and meet and he was always positive, even if we weren’t swimming well one day,” roommates and teammates Ian Ridlehoover and Milo Balzer shared. “He was so dedicated to our sport and spent countless hours outside of normal practice times and during the offseason training to get a little better.”

As Khatib famous: “He deeply cared about others’ success, and wanted them to reach the same heights that he had.”

Those qualities led teammates to elect LaSida to the crew’s Leadership Council for the previous two years.

“Emil’s accomplishments speak for themselves, and they reflect his character, investment, and dedication to swimming and discipline,” mentioned Caeden Couch, a fellow swimmer who turned shut with LaSida as suitemates sophomore yr. “Every single person on the team looks up to Emil as a role model, big brother and, most of all, a friend.”

Though a few of his closest buddies had been swimmers, LaSida’s friendships prolonged past the pool. He cherished spending time with buddies at film nights, climbing journeys and air exhibits, Ridlehoover and Balzer shared, and “was the best friend we could have asked for.” LaSida usually hosted his former suitemates at his residence for board video games, Couch famous, together with a gathering just some nights in the past.

Claire Kozma, a senior swimmer on the Women’s Swimming & Diving crew, additionally acknowledged LaSida’s real hospitality and welcoming demeanor, together with, she mentioned, a “contagious” giggle—a sentiment a number of buddies shared.

“[Emil] is the kind of person who offers his seat to someone else, hosts and bakes for his friends, lifts others up at swim meets, and makes sure every person in the room feels comfortable,” Kozma mentioned. “He did every thing with grace and out of affection, at all times contemplating the wants of others.

In brief, Couch mirrored, LaSida was “downright wonderful.”

Emil LaSida is survived by his dad and mom, Lolo and Maya; his brother, Lufti; and members of the family from Seattle to Arlington, Indonesia to Belgium, and past—all of whom are mourning this loss, his dad and mom mentioned. The household will host a non-public service; the college will replace this text with the household’s obituary or different info because it turns into accessible.

Students who want help throughout this time can attain University Counseling Services at 216.368.5872 or by scheduling an appointment on-line via MyHealthJoin, or entry 24/7 on-line help via TimelyCare; school and employees counseling companies can be found via AllOne Health, the college’s Employee Assistance Provider, at 800.227.6007.