Recent Reedley High graduate dies after cancer fight. ‘He’s affected so many people’
Former Reedley High tackle Sal Mendoza remembers fondly when Malachi Rios would often joke on and off the field about anything.
Rios brought many smiles to the faces of his teammates on the Pirates football team: “He would always be making people laugh,” said Mendoza, who added Rios was the type of person who would “make the best out of the situation” despite fighting cancer twice.
Rios first battled cancer in 2022, when doctors found a lump and removed it after doctors at discovered he had stage 4 testicular cancer.
The cancer returned just before the 2023 high school football season. Rios played two games before going into chemotherapy treatment after CT scans and a blood test showed there might be new lung tumors. He had testicular cancer again.
Rios, 18, died Monday night at Valley Children’s Hospital.
Mendoza said he had a feeling something wasn’t right as he sat at home. He picked up the phone and called teammates to ask if they want to meet up at the hospital just north of Fresno in Madera.
About 15 to 20 teammates took the trip up Highway 41 and were praying for Rios when they were told he had passed away.
“We said our peace,” Mendoza said. “We tried to be as respectful as we could. It’s unreal. It was May 30 the day we graduated and he walked the stage with us.
“We all know Malachi is in a better place now and they say there’s a party in heaven.”
Malachi’s mom, Jessica Rios, wrote on GoFundMe: “My beautiful boy, you no longer know pain and suffering. The angels have escorted you into eternity. Thank you for all the beautiful memories and love that you poured into our lives. We already miss you.”
Rios’ family went to Cancun for Malachi’s treatment in May, but the cancer spread over 400% and tumors filled his lungs at a rate that doubles every 24 hours, according to Jessica Rios’ post.
Reedley coach Tony Gates was also at the hospital Monday and was overcome with the amount of support from people in the area.
“It’s really amazing to see how much he’s affected so many people in this community,” he said.
“When he had to leave to start chemo, selfishly as a coach, we got worse because he was a two-way starter and a good two-way starter. He’s a pretty damn good football player. When he left, we went on a skid and it took us a while (to get back). Losing Malachi threw us off because of the talent level.
“I got to visit Malachi prior to his passing. I said my goodbyes and kind of came to peace with that.”
