MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo family is mourning the passing of Barrett Dempsey, a freshman student-athlete on the Montevallo wrestling team.
 
Dempsey enrolled at the University of Montevallo in the fall of 2023 as part of the inaugural wrestling team. The Byhalia, Mississippi native graduated from Center Hill High School in the spring of 2023.
 
Dempsey wrestled in eight matches for the Falcons in 2023.
 
Details related to the cause of death are unknown at this time.
 
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our wrestling student-athlete Barrett Dempsey," said Montevallo Vice President for Athletics and Special Programs Mark Richard. "Barrett was a great young man and was well respected by his coaches, teammates, friends and family. We ask for everyone to keep the Dempsey family in your prayers."
 
"Barrett was an amazing individual. He was a cornerstone to our team, with an amazing personality and work ethic," said Head Coach Daniel Ownbey. "His competitive spirit, his achievements in the classroom, and the support he showed his teammates display what an outstanding student-athlete he was. He gave everything he had to this team and to his academics. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. As Barrett would say 'falcons on me, falcons on three.'"
 
Montevallo's dual against Huntingdon, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., has been canceled.