Jeremy 'Ryan' Lambert, a 16-year-old state high school wrestling champion from Alabama, died in a single-vehicle car crash on Friday. The accident occurred east of Birmingham in a rural area, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
Investigators reported that Lambert's 2007 Jeep Cherokee struck an embankment and overturned. He was ejected from the vehicle and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Lambert was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The ALEA is continuing its investigation into the incident.
News of Lambert's death was shared by Alexandria Elementary School, where his mother works as a teacher. In a Facebook post, the school expressed its deep sorrow and offered condolences to the Lambert family. The post highlighted Lambert's passion for wrestling and the impact of his loss on his school and community.
Lambert had won consecutive Alabama Class 1A-4A state titles over the past two years. His team also achieved a second-place ranking in the state in 2026. Alexandria High School Principal Derek Cobb described Lambert as a "tremendous classmate, teammate and friend."
Alexandria wrestling coach Frank Hartzog called the news "absolutely heartbreaking and still in disbelief," offering his thoughts and prayers to Lambert's family and loved ones.
The community has shown an outpouring of support, with calls and messages coming from other schools, wrestling programs across the state, and even college presidents. Lambert's funeral was held on Thursday, and his family requested that attendees wear Alexandria High School's colors, orange and black.
