'Something Special About Him:' Loved Ones Remember Carter Brian Stone

AGOURA HILLS, CA — Agoura High football coach Dustin Croick was surprised when all his players' hands flew up at once. He had asked them if they wanted to play Friday night, just hours after they found out their 15-year-old teammate had unexpectedly died.

The adults in the room had hardly thought about the scheduled game against the Ventura Cougars that Friday and weren't sure it was a good idea to play given how emotional the day was. But the players were determined to honor their friend.

"We're playing for Carter," they told Croick.

The Agoura High Chargers and their opponents started the game with 10 men on the field that Friday night, rather than the usual 11.

Agoura High School freshman football player Carter Stone died unexpectedly on Aug. 25 after undergoing a routine shoulder surgery, according to a GoFundMe page created by Kristin Brogan. Doctors discovered an undiagnosed tumor on Stone's heart during surgery, Brogan said.

The community instantly rallied around the Stone family and grieving students at Agoura High School. Croick said he received hundreds of supportive texts and calls. Several local schools such as Calabasas High and Oak Park honored Stone with moments of silence and social media posts. A GoFundMe for Stone's family raised more than $100,000 by Wednesday evening.

"The love and support we’ve received from friends, family and the Agoura/Westlake community has been an extraordinary gift during this devastating time for our family," the Stone family said in a statement. "We have found a great deal of comfort over the past several days thanks to the generosity and heart-warming acts of kindness we’ve received from our village."

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Remembering Carter Brian Stone

Stone was the kind of kid who went the extra mile, Croick said. His work ethic was astonishing for a high schooler, he added. For example, Stone elected to wake up at 5:30 a.m. over the summer for extra weightlifting on top of his already brutal football practices, Croick said.

"You could tell that there was something special about him," Croick said. "Just the way he carried himself... you could tell how much he wanted to be great at football and how important it was to him to put in the work and all that, which is hard for kids that age. You don't see that in a lot of kids."

At home, Stone was the type of kid who didn't have to be asked to go help with the groceries or take out the trash, Stone's parents told Croick. He would do anything for his sisters and loved spending time with his family.

"Carter Brian Stone was an incredibly kind, compassionate, caring human being. At 15, he was just beginning to grow into the remarkable person he was becoming," his family said in a statement. "Carter had a charming sense of humor and a love of music, video games and superhero movies. He loved spending time with his family, including his three sisters, many cousins and friends, and experienced great joy holding his newborn baby cousin."

Stone was a leader for his peers, and his death is a reminder of a simple life lesson: "be a good human," Croick said.

Though he was shy as a freshman in high school, Stone's personality would peak through, showing he was a kind, humble and funny kid, Croick said.

"He was this humble, almost old-school kind of character, a great brother and just a really great young man," Croick said.

Community Healing

The days following Stone's death have been difficult, Croick said.

Students in the football program found out about Stone's death on social media and officially on Friday morning during a meeting in the school's auditorium. They stuck around to be together for about an hour. Throughout the day, students visited with football staff and school counselors to talk. Croick sought to help the boys find balance, he said.

“Death is hard and grief is hard, and these kids are way too young to be learning [about] it so raw and early in their lives. Friday was tough,” Croick said. “For us, it’s just letting them know that we’re here and that them talking about it and sharing their emotions is the most important thing right now. It’s ok to cry, and it’s ok to feel this way, and don’t hold it in.”

The team has found ways to honor their friend's memory throughout the season.

The team will hold a moment of silence before their upcoming game against the Nordhoff Rangers on Friday. Both teams will again start Friday's game with 10 men on the field, rather than the usual 11, Croick said.

The players also decided they will wear Carter's number and the phrase "Be Like Carter" on their helmets for the remainder of the season. They'll also pass out shirts with a special "Be Like Carter" logo designed by family friend Ben Infanger to look like the logo for "Better Call Saul" — one of Stone's favorite shows.

"When we are ready, we look forward to sharing more about his story and what it means to 'Be Like Carter,'" the Stone family said.

Croick was amazed and inspired by the Stone family's strength when he met with them Saturday, he said.

The community, and especially the older students in the football program, have also stepped up for each other in a beautiful way, Croick added. Stone's impact on his teammates has been profound.

"For me it's overwhelming with emotions, just knowing what football does to bring people together and, really, what's important with that," Croick said. "At the end of the day it's [about] young men learning life lessons and being better men in life."