Jamin Pugh, a professional wrestler from Laurel, who competed in the Ring of Honor for two decades under the stage name Jay Briscoe, has died in a car crash. He was 38.
His daughters, Gracie and Jayleigh, were also injured.
Jana Pugh, Jamin Pugh’s mother and a member of the Laurel School District board of education, said that both girls have had emergency surgeries, and doctors aren’t sure if one will be able to walk again.
Jamin was “a family guy,” Jana said. He would do cheerleading dances with his daughters, even putting a bow in his hair to match them. He just spent the weekend at one of their cheer competitions in North Carolina, and Jana said she could hear him cheering in the background of the videos he sent her.
Since his death Tuesday night, Jana said she’s received an outpouring of messages and support from people her son met all around the world. On social media, many local Delawareans have changed their profile pictures to the silhouette of a dog with “#prayersforthePughs” underneath it.
BACKGROUND:‘An incredible performer’: Ring of Honor wrestler Jay Briscoe of Delaware dies at 38
Laurel School District announced on Facebook Tuesday night that all schools would be closed Wednesday “due to an unthinkable tragedy in our community.”
The district, which is slated to reopen Thursday, asked people to “please keep the Pugh Family in your thoughts and prayers.”
State police are investigating the crash but have not yet released any information.
Though he was well known as a pro wrestler, Pugh’s athletic exploits began at Laurel High and he continued to influence area athletes.
“He was heavily involved,” Kevin Walmsley, the Laurel High athletic director, said Wednesday. “He was at school almost every day . . . It’s a huge tragedy for the community.”
Pugh was a first-team All-Henlopen Conference Southern Division fullback and linebacker and honorable mention All-State linebacker before graduating from Laurel in 2002 on teams coached by his father, Mike.
He was presently an assistant coach on the Laurel Middle School football team, on which son Gannon played, and also coached youth basketball in the town.
In addition, Pugh regularly visited with and inspired Laurel athletes, Walmsley said.
“With the kids at practice, teaching skills, techniques, some of them knew he was a star in professional wrestling and some didn’t know that,” Walmsley said. “But he treated every kid the same and he’s gonna be missed.
“You saw him at the local store. He gave back. All the kids knew him. Just a true motivator.”
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
