ASU hockey collapse spurs review of outdoor military-style workouts
Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during a roughly 60-minute outdoor, military-style workout led by an outside instructor (Tim Ziesel, a former service member). The session included sprints, planks, push-ups, bear crawls, and a final long run with a medicine ball, with athletes reportedly pressured to repeat instructions and not complain. ASU says it is reviewing the incident; experts warn that punitive, non-science-based conditioning in heat poses real risks and NCAA heat-acclimation guidelines emphasize avoiding high-intensity early-season workouts. The Tufts lacrosse incident is cited as a cautionary example of outside instructors lacking credentials. Mayich remains hospitalized in critical condition, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety in such training practices.
