Wes' parents remember a 'quiet leader'

FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - For Wes Leonard's mom and dad, the last four games were for the boys, their boys -- their son's teammates who carried on in his memory.

They had gone to every one of their son's games, including the one March 3 that ended with his death, and they weren't about to miss these final few of the season.

But as they watched, they couldn't erase the image of their 16-year-old son, a junior at Fennville High School, and how he was always the last player to leave the locker room.

"We just kept watching for him to come out," said Wes' dad, Gary Leonard.

Gary and Jocelyn Leonard told 24 Hour News 8 on Tuesday they have a message to send, and it's thank you -- to Wes' teammates, to his school, his coaches, to an entire city -- and to those who have reached out to them from around the country.

"They have been unbelievable to our family, and I don't even know how to express it," Gary said.

In the days after their son's death, of a heart attack after making a winning basket to end a perfect regular season, the Leonards' home was packed with friends and relatives.

And, every day, somebody from school was delivering a meal.

"People just fed our entire -- I mean, sometimes there were 30 people here -- you know, maybe even 40 on certain days," Jocelyn said. "They just provided for those people. They were able to eat."

They marveled at the boys on the team, their boys, who spent nights at their home after Wes' death, flopping on the couch, on the floor, not allowing them to be alone.

"They came over, they lightened our moods, thank God," Gary said. "They were unbelievably good, because we weren't much to deal with. For 16-, 17-year-old boys to come over and spend hours and hours and hours with us. They're part of our family."

These were the same boys who helped them through a funeral that drew more than 1,500 mourners, where Wes was remembered as a quiet leader.

"He got confirmed in church this past year," his mom said. "And, I remember his minister telling him, 'Boys, you could be a little more rambunctious out there, show a little emotion.' Wes just told him, 'that's how I lead, I lead quietly.' "

"I just couldn't be more proud of him," his dad said. "I mean, he always opened doors for ladies, and he never was one that thumped his chest when he did something good.

"I mean, we love him more than you can possibly imagine and just knowing that other people feel the same way ... "

They also marveled at Xavier Grigg, who, also at age 16, was Wes' best friend, and who took his spot in the starting lineup.

"He did great," Jocelyn said. "I mean, who would expect a 16-year-old to have to go through that? You know? How do you bury your best friend and play a ball game? How do you do that? How do you do that? At 16 years old, how do you do that?"

Never did they question whether the Blackhawks should continue playing.

"Wes would have wanted them to play, and we wanted them to play and play hard and they did; they just played unbelievable," Gary said.

Last week, after watching their boys win the district championship, they looked down on the court as their 13-year-old son, Mitchell, walked off with the trophy, high above his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

"To see him be a part of that was great, I mean, that at least a little bit of Wes was out there with his brother, and I think it meant a lot to him for the healing, for starting the healing," his mom said.

Still, Jocelyn wonders what more she could have done.

"That's the hardest thing is, as a mom, you're supposed to protect them, and get them to their dreams, get them to their goals," she said. "I didn't do it, and it's hard for me to accept that -- that I missed it. They're telling me it's really hard to detect, but, and every mom who hears this is going to know. But I missed it, and it's hard. It's hard to accept."

Which is why, just Monday, before the final game of the season, their son, Mitchell, had tests at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital that showed he does not have a heart problem, his parents said.

The eighth-grader returned to school Tuesday for the first time, but had to go home after fourth hour. It was more than he could take.

"We don't know which way to turn, to be honest," his dad said.

The Leonards say they're working on a fundraiser to help raise awareness of the sudden deaths of young athletes.