School reeling over 2 deaths

Students at East High School roamed the halls in grief Monday after staggering losses over the weekend. The school's longtime boys soccer coach, loved by his team, and a former star athlete, whose smile left an impression on everyone she met, both died Sunday.

Coach Mike Kernodle died after a long battle with a liver illness. Lauren Mulkey, a former lacrosse athlete, long jumper and sprinter who graduated in January, was killed early Sunday when her car was hit by a teen driver who was talking on his cell phone.

"This is probably the hardest day of my life," Coulson Wiscomb, a goalie for the soccer team, said during Monday's practice.

The team held its regular practice despite being excused from school. The players had breakfast together in the morning, shared stories, comforted each other and took the time away from school to grieve.

Meanwhile, Mulkey's heartbroken mother, Linda, was surrounded by her daughter's friends, who spent the night with her Sunday night.

"She was my only daughter, and it is going to be lonely and very hard for me," Linda Mulkey said. "I am not ready to not have someone to take care of anymore. I'm not ready not to be a mom."

She said nearly 100 of Lauren's friends stopped by her home Monday to share stories and memories with her. They also painted "Lauren we love you" on the road leading to her house.

Friends describe Mulkey as a beautiful, confident and driven young woman who was friends with everyone and would stick up for the underdog. After graduating early, Lauren immediately enrolled at Westminster College.

The most striking thing about her was her "big beautiful infectious smile," her mom said. "She had more best friends than anyone I have ever met.

"She hated when people would tear themselves down and was the first to build them up."

Niesha Gardiner, an East High senior who ran track with Mulkey, said she was a leader and was always there for her friends.

"She was always so positive and had faith in what she could do, and helped others feel the same way about themselves," Gardiner said.

Lauren's father, Tom Mulkey, said, "There will be an awful lot of us that are going to miss her, and her influence is going to be carried on with everyone who knew her."

Members of the Salt Lake City School District's crisis team were on hand Monday to talk to students and faculty members to help them work through their grief.

The soccer team has been reeling since hearing the news of Kernodle's death. Sunday night, the players gathered to support each other and share stories about their coach. Team members said he was a father figure to everyone.