The Weber State University community lost one of their own recently; his name was Ammon Voge.

Voge passed away on March 9 in Cedar City, where he was attending Southern Utah University. Voge transferred to SUU after spending a few semesters at Weber State.

Voge was born on November 19, 1994 and raised in Layton, Utah. He enrolled at Weber State right out of high school.

Voge was a very hard working student, not only focused on his studies, but an inspiring leader for his rugby teammates.

Voge played rugby for Weber State back in 2013 and was one of the hardest working players on the field, according to old teammate and friend Johnny Francis.

Francis is now one of the athletic trainers for Weber State. He focuses on the rugby team and also helps with the hockey team when he can.

“The most special thing about rugby is the family aspect,” Francis said. “Once you are on the team, that’s it. You’re a brother, and a part of a family.”

Voge was not only a team player and a leader on the team, but was also such a positive person off the field.

“He was kind of shy and quiet at times, but he always showed up to practice,” Francis said. “He was also one of those kids you always saw with a smile on his face, and it was somewhat contagious.”

A good friend of Voge, Mona Kowsari, explained Voge’s personality in similar terms as Francis, while touching on the great accomplishments in his life.

“He was one of my best friends and was always someone I could go to for anything” Kowsari said. “I could tell him anything, and he would help me to the best of his ability. He was the nicest and sweetest person a friend could ever ask for.”

After hearing of the loss of fellow teammate Voge, Francis, along with others on the current rugby team decided to commemorate his life by meeting before their road rugby game against Idaho State for a prayer and small celebration of his life.

This celebration of life took place on the rugby field below the Social Science Building on Weber State’s main campus. The entire team paid their respects on that crisp morning, as Francis and another former teammate, Keoni Dellermann, carried out Voge’s old jersey and cleats to the middle of the field where they proceeded to huddle in a circle and say a prayer for Voge.

“Its incredibly tough losing a brother,” Dellermann said. “Especially with someone like Ammon, who was incredibly dedicated to not only his school work and rugby, but also to his family and friends as well.”

The rugby team all signed Voge’s jersey and cleats and returned them to Voge’s family. The team wore the letters “AV” on their arms for the remainder of their season to remember their fallen brother.

Voge’s legacy on and off the field will not be forgotten by anyone, especially his friends and family here in the Weber State community.