Wolfpack fans gather at Bell Tower for vigil to honor superfan Grayson Ketchie, who died at 14

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Members of Wolfpack Nation gathered for a vigil at the N.C. State Bell Tower on Friday to mourn the loss of one of their most beloved fans, Grayson Ketchie.

His mom, Dianne Ketchie, posted on social media on Thursday that the 14-year-old died battling pneumonia on and off for over a year.

The Wolfpack and the world fell in love with Grayson after he formed a special relationship with a former Ms. Wuf, Gus Camille.

“He wants to reach out and hold your hand and give a hug,” she said. “But even if he did not physically touch you, if he touched your heart, he found some way to connect even over a phone screen and social media.”

Their relationship grew so strong, he took his first steps on his own in more than two years into her arms.

Grayson was born premature and nonverbal, but became a fixture at NC State athletic events through the years and was known as one of the Wolfpack’s biggest fans.

Mackenzie Gibbon is another former Ms. Wuf who grew close to Grayson and his family through the years.

“We want to remember him and also allow everyone who loved him to come out because there are so many people that did love him and work, and just we didn’t want to say goodbye when he was saying goodbye,” she said.

That Wolfpack pride and love for Grayson was on full display in front of the bell tower Friday night.

“It ripples out so much further than this campus. It ripples out so much further than his family. And everyone felt the love and the joy that he brings to everyone, that he brings to everything he does,” said Camille.

Through tears, Dianne Ketchie shared a plea for everyone who was touched by her son.

“Please, just keep carrying him around with you,” she said.

As the crowd grew to more than 50 in front of the bell tower, Camille asked the crowd to honor Grayson’s legacy.

“I want everybody who walks away from here tonight to keep a little bit of that with them. Always, because we all need to live that way. We all need to aspire to be a little bit more like Grayson,” she said.

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