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Tampa Teen Got Fatal Head Injury During Frat Initiation

Tribune file photo by JIM REED (2006)

Harrison Kowiak, seen here with instructor Shane Gillespie, was recruited to play golf for Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. Kowiak died Tuesday.

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By RAY REYES and RICHARD GOULD

The Tampa Tribune and Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record

Published: November 20, 2008

Updated: 11/20/2008 09:11 pm

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Harrison Kowiak

A 19-year-old Tampa resident who died Tuesday in North Carolina was injured during a fraternity initiation, authorities say.

Harrison Kowiak was one of two pledges participating in the initiation for the Theta Chi chapter at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., investigators said today.

The initiation involved playing a game similar to "capture the flag," Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said.

The initiation was held about 11 p.m. Monday in almost total darkness, at a private, gated pasture called Buffalo Farm about 10 miles south of the university, sheriff's office Capt. Roy Brown said. About 17 people participated in the activity, authorities say.

The cold weather made the ground as hard as concrete, Huffman said. Kowiak died after receiving a head injury.

The sheriff's office says it does not consider the incident hazing and that parents Brian and Lianne Kowiak do not think their son's death was the result of criminal activity.

"This is something they do every year, every fall and spring," Huffman said of the fraternity. "This situation may not happen again in 100 years. The fraternity may need to review their initiation practices."

Investigators say Kowiak was disoriented but conscious. Witnesses told deputies it appeared Kowiak had lost some movement in his limbs.

"I don't think they were trying to hurt anybody at all," Huffman said of the initiation. "There's nothing to indicate that there was any anger or foul play."

The Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore was taken first to a local hospital by fraternity members, the sheriff's office said. Kowiak was then taken by medical helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he died about midnight Tuesday, Brown said.

The sheriff's office started its investigation Wednesday and detectives are awaiting an autopsy report, Huffman said.

Theta Chi's national chapter is cooperating with investigators, the sheriff's office said. Once the sheriff's office investigation is complete, the case will be submitted to the District Attorney's Office for review.

There were conflicting stories earlier this week on how Kowiak received the head injury, investigators say.

One version witnesses told detectives was that Kowiak was playing a flag football game and was struck in the head by another player's knee. Another was that Kowiak was playing basketball, fell and hit his head on the pavement.

'Live Your Life to the Fullest'

Kowiak's mother, Lianne, spoke at her son's memorial service this morning at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, adjacent to Lenoir-Rhyne University. The church seats 480. A standing-room-only crowd packed the sanctuary.

"Be safe," Lianne Kowiak told friends, students and faculty that gathered. "Live your life to the fullest as Harrison did."

Harrison Kowiak grew up in New Jersey and loved the New York Yankees and Knicks, she said. He enjoyed snowboarding and skateboarding but found his calling playing golf. The small, private Lutheran college in Hickory recruited Kowiak to be a member on the university's golf team.

Kowiak played piano and was teaching himself how to play guitar, his mother said at the service. He loved to travel and became the family photographer when he, his parents and sister went on trips to New York and Asia.

Lianne Kowiak said the family is donating his blue Volvo to the college's golf team so students without cars can have transportation. Her son was also an organ donor and his kidneys, lungs, liver, pancreas and heart will be given to those who need them, she said.

His father, Brian, said he admired his son's focus, determination and competitive drive.

"He opened up the world to me and I'm thankful for that," Brian Kowiak said.

Kowiak's golf teammate, Ty Dannenbring, said his friend "is in heaven and I'm sure he's having an awesome time."

Classes were suspended while the memorial service was held from 10 a.m. to noon, university spokesman Mike Langford said.

"It was a celebration of Harrison's life and his time here with us," Langford said. The college has about 1,600 students and Kowiak's death shocked the tight-knit campus, he said.

When the service ended, students comforted each other outside of the red brick church, amid the fallen autumn leaves.

'A Beautiful Smile'

Tyler Cornack, a high school classmate of Kowiak's, said he remembers his friend as a positive person who always had a smile on his face.

"He was genuine," Cornack, 20, said. "He meant well. Every day. And that's a rare thing."

Cornack and Kowiak became friends when they both took a television production class at Wharton High School in New Tampa. The two would produce comedy videos for class projects, Cornack said.

News of Kowiak's death left him shaken, Cornack said.

"It was just a freak accident," he said. "It's a tragedy."

Mackenzie Parker lived in the same dorm with Kowiak at Lenoir-Rhyne last year and remembers his "beautiful smile."

"He was such a good person," said Parker, 19. "We need more people like him in the world. He had such an impact on everyone."

Hickory Daily Record reporter Sarah Newell Williamson contributed to this report. Tribune reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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