The small community of Trinity, North Carolina is coming together in sorrow following the passing of Jace Penny, a 19-year-old former Wheatmore High School athlete who died on June 13, 2026.
Jace was born on February 6, 2007, and his death has left a hole in the hearts of everyone who crossed his path, from classmates and teammates to neighbors and coaches who watched him grow into the young man he became.
Jace was a multi-sport athlete at Wheatmore High School, competing as a wide receiver and defensive back on the varsity football team while also suiting up for the JV basketball squad.
He wore the number 2 jersey in both sports and graduated with the class of 2025. To those who watched him play, he represented something bigger than wins and losses.
He was a kid who kept showing up, kept competing, and kept giving his team everything he had even when the scoreboard did not always go their way.
During the 2024 football season, Jace finished with 15 receptions for 84 total receiving yards, doing his part week after week through a demanding schedule. Some of his best moments came against South Stanly, where he caught five passes for 31 yards, and in the season opener against West Davidson, where he pulled in two catches for 29 yards.
He also earned a spot in the 1A/2A Piedmont regional leaderboard, ranking 13th in interceptions, a quiet but meaningful recognition of his work on the defensive side of the ball.
His football career at Wheatmore stretched across two seasons. In 2023, as a younger player still finding his footing, he contributed on special teams and on defense, and was part of a team that pulled off a narrow 15 to 14 win over Bishop McGuinness that gave the Warriors and their fans something to celebrate.
A Loss That Words Cannot Fully Carry
When the news of Jace’s passing reached the community, the response was immediate and overwhelming. The Wheatmore Warriors Athletic Booster Club posted a tribute on social media, asking the community to join them in mourning one of their own and sending love to his family and friends.
The comments section filled quickly with prayers, memories, and expressions of grief from people across the area who had known Jace or simply recognized what his loss meant to a tight-knit community like Trinity.
Community members described the pain as something deeply personal, the kind of loss that stops you in your tracks and reminds everyone how fragile and precious a young life truly is. Jace was 19 years old. He had his whole future ahead of him, and the people who loved him are now left holding memories they will carry for the rest of their lives.
To his family, his friends, his former coaches, and everyone in Trinity who cheered for him on those Friday nights, the Wheatmore community stands with you in this moment of profound grief. Jace Penny mattered, and he will not be forgotten.
