Family members and friends of an Orange County high school tennis star were shocked when the healthy girl collapsed during a workout.
"She's a stud," said Scott Rowland, the father of 17-year-old Morgan Wilson, who suffered a cardiac arrest while running at the Anaheim Tennis Center on Tuesday. "She is a strong girl, and so for something like this to happen, it's just totally blown us away."
Rowland said Wilson had no signs or symptoms of any health problems. Paramedics were able to revive Wilson before she was brought to the UC Irvine Medical Center. She is now in a medically induced coma in critical condition.
On Thursday, dozens of family members and friends gathered at Esperanza High School to pray for her recovery.
They described Wilson as a determined player who doesn't like to fail and a girl who believes she can do anything. Wilson's friend Jake Rowland said Wilson practices "countless hours every single day."
"She's always out there, she's a real go-getter," Rowland said. "When she puts her mind to something, you know, athletics, academics, she does it."
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Wilson is the captain of Esperanza's girls' tennis team and a member of the track team. She began playing tennis at 6 years old and left her family vacation early to attend a tennis camp this week.
Another friend, Chelsea Parker, said she and Wilson had been making college plans together.
"I just want her to stay with me," Parker said. "I want here to be here for all of us."
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Family members said they're hoping to get even more prayers for Wilson as they await news from a doctor.
"I just want everybody to know that she's surrounded with love," her sister Katelyn Wilson said.
