Teachers and students at Wootton High School knew Robert Yin was going places. In high school, he was a leader on the track team, a member of an a capella group, and a standout among his classmates.
Last Friday, Wootton was fatally injured while competing at a track meet for his college team. He died Tuesday from his injuries.
Robert Yin enrolled in Grinnell College in Iowa after graduating from Wootton in 2008. He joined the track team and started pole vaulting -- an event that he had never tried because it was not offered at Wootton. Wootton High School Principal Dr. Michael Doran said that was not surprising for Yin.
"Robert would always push the limits," Doran said. "He would take on challenges and try new things. He wasn’t afraid of stepping out of the box."
Last Friday, he was competing in a regional track meet in Illinois when something went wrong. He landed on his back during a pole vault, suffering serious head injuries.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
His family rushed to Illinois to be by his side, and were there when he died Tuesday. Friends at Wootton High School were devastated by the news.
"He was one of the leaders of Wootton’s track team, everyone looked up to him, he made sure everyone out there had fun," student Ben Berlin told News4.
Yin’s teachers, choir leaders and friends said what they will remember most about him was his smile, his heart and his enthusiasm, which inspired everyone around him.
