By: Padrick Brewer
Reprinted from Central Florida Future
A former UCF tennis player drowned Tuesday in Copake, N.Y., after his kayak flipped in a pond in Lower Rhoda Pond, The Independent Online reported Dec. 30.
According to the report, Sinan Sudas, 22, and another man took two one-person kayaks into the pond around 3 a.m. after celebrating a birthday at Camp Pontiac. The kayaks capsized about 75 feet from the opposite shore.
The other man swam to shore and walked around the pond back to the camp after he could not find Sudas, according to the report.
There was a search, 911 was called and Sudas’ body was found at about 10:33 a.m., the report stated.
In a release, UCF Athletics confirmed Sudas’ death.
“The entire UCF Athletics family is deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of Sinan,” UCF Director of Athletics Keith Tribble said in the release. “Sinan was a great young man who represented our men’s tennis program and our university with great pride. He was passionate about UCF athletics and was a great representative of our school. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Sudas, who was born in Adana, Turkey, played for head coach Brian Cashman for four years, ending his senior season last year.
“Sinan will be missed by all of us here at UCF,” Cashman said in the release. “His loss is a shock to our team and staff. Sinan was kind to everyone he met and had a great impact on our program. He will always be a member of the UCF tennis family.”
