Fletcher Merkle memory lives on
An eight-year-old boy’s love for football sparked an enduring bond between grieving Minneapolis families and the University of Minnesota football team following a tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School in August 2025, CNN reported.
Fletcher Merkle died when a gunman opened fire at the school less than ten miles from the university campus. Ten-year-old Harper Moyski also died, and 27 others sustained injuries during the attack.
P.J. Fleck faced intense pressure over what to say to a community in shock. He felt a deep sense of responsibility as a state employee and a parent.
“I just wanted him to know that we’re here for the healing process – however, and as much as, you want us,” Fleck said.
Golden Gophers game brings unexpected joy
Ten months before the shooting, Fletcher attended a Golden Gophers game with his friends MJ Roaldi, Sebi Dietenberger, and Trip Sharpe. The boys rushed the field after an upset win over the University of Southern California.
A photograph capturing Fletcher on the field after the game found its way to Fleck. The image now sits on the coach’s desk as a reminder of an unbridled moment of sports enthusiasm.
“You just never know who you’re impacting, and you never know how the universe and the world is going to pull you back together,” Fleck told CNN Sports.
Families find solace in team support
Jesse Merkel initially harbored a grudge against the university stemming from his own college running recruitment. He also viewed Fleck’s energetic persona with skepticism before getting to know him.
Everything changed when Fleck shared his own experience of losing a son, Colton, who died shortly after birth from a heart condition. That shared grief broke down barriers between the coach and the grieving father.
“He told me that he lost a son himself and that immediately, for better or worse, lets me put my guard down,” Jesse Merkel told CNN.
Fleck handed Merkel a charm featuring a saint. He told him he used it to think about his own son and wanted Merkel to have one.
An emotional return to TCF Bank Stadium
The football program welcomed Annunciation families back for games, practices, and community events over the following months. Players attended a school Fall Festival and a Fishing for Fletcher fundraiser.
During a November 1, 2025, game, the Gophers secured an overtime victory. Players hoisted Fletcher’s friends onto their shoulders in the locker room while chanting the fight song.
“When we came here, it was the first time that I was around them, and I was able to feed off of their joy and be happy for them,” Jesse Merkel told CNN.
Fleck addressed the team after the game and defined the Annunciation community as literal family. He pledged unwavering support for the future.
“And they will always be family to us,” Fleck said, according to CNN, “from now [to] forever.”
Questions about the Minneapolis school shooting
What school was impacted by the shooting in Minneapolis?
The shooting took place at Annunciation Catholic School in August 2025, claiming the lives of eight-year-old Fletcher Merkle and ten-year-old Harper Moyski.
How did P.J. Fleck connect personally with Jesse Merkel?
Fleck connected with Merkel by sharing his own personal grief over the loss of his infant son, Colton, who died of a heart condition shortly after birth.
What ongoing support has the University of Minnesota football team provided?
The Gophers have hosted grieving families and classmates at games and practices, participated in school fundraisers, and maintained a continuous presence in the community.
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