Wayne County sports community mourns loss of high school athlete killed in wreck

The Wayne County High School gym opened at noon Saturday, July 26 for “a time of support and prayer” for the family of student-athlete Cayleb Rice, who died July 25.

Wayne County High School Football Coach Tyler Guffey told the Herald-Leader Saturday that Cayleb, a rising sophomore and member of the football and boy’s basketball team, died from injuries he received in a wreck.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told WKYT Cayleb was thrown from the vehicle he was driving on Ky. 1275, after the vehicle went off the road and hit a tree stump. No one else was in the vehicle.

“Cayleb is one of those guys who did everything he did wholeheartedly. It didn’t matter if it was on the field, on the court, in the classroom or just in life. He was a great kid,” Guffey said.

Cayleb’s age was not immediately available.

His death prompted expressions of sympathy from throughout the state on social media Saturday.

Steve Quattrocchi, Lexington’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School boy’s basketball coach, told the Herald-Leader Cayleb was part of his AAU program, called Griffin Elite, the last two seasons.

“Cayleb was a great young man. Extremely mature. Hard working. He loved basketball and his family. He’s a role model for his younger brothers. He will be missed,” Quattrocchi said.

“There are no appropriate words to express our thoughts and prayers to the great people around Wayne County tonight,” Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett wrote in a Facebook post. “Such a tough day and indescribable loss. With hearts that are heavy, we pray for all in and around this family during this unthinkable time.”

On his X account, Cayleb described himself as having a 4.0 grade point average.

His teachers said he was one of the best students they ever had, Guffey told the Herald-Leader.

“It’s going to be a big loss to the community,” he noted.

Wayne County school officials said in a statement Saturday they will continue to provide counseling and other resources to students and staff to help them cope with Cayleb’s death.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I share the heartbreaking news that we have lost one of our own,” a football team Facebook post from Guffey said around 9:20 p.m. Friday. “Cayleb Rice passed away this afternoon, and we are all deeply saddened by this sudden loss. Cayleb was more than a teammate, he was a brother, a leader, and a friend.”

Cayleb’s love for athletics brought out the best in those around him, “both on and off the field and court,” the post continued. “He will be missed beyond words.”

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the loss of a great young man Cayleb Rice,” a post on the Wayne County boy’s basketball Facebook page states.

Cayleb played in all but one basketball game as a freshman, averaging 3.9 points and 1.6 rebounds, records show.

Herald-Leader reporters Jared Peck and Karla Ward contributed to this article.

This story was originally published July 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM.