The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Two Wilson High School students are working to address an issue that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late: sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes.
Alexis Torres and Emmalie Arzate, both student-athletes and members of Wilson’s student athletic training staff, recently founded the Hearts on the Field Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to improving cardiac safety in youth sports.
For Arzate, the mission is deeply personal. Her cousin passed away earlier this year due to cardiac arrest, a tragedy that reshaped how she saw the condition.
“That really opened my eyes,” Arzate said. “I knew about cardiac arrest before, but I never understood how deep and devastating it could be until it hit home. It made me want to learn more and find ways to prevent this from happening to other families.”
Torres, who serves as Board President and Executive Director of the organization, said that he’s always wanted to do something with purpose.
“I’ve always wanted to make an impact on my community,” Torres said. “This is such an important issue that doesn’t get enough attention. People know sudden cardiac arrest is serious, but many don’t know how extensive the problem really is. Our goal is to change that through education, prevention, and action.”
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes during sports activities. While considered rare the condition is devastating with studies estimating between one in 40,000 and one in 80,000 athletes dying each year.
The risk has drawn growing public attention in recent years following high-profile cases, including Los Angeles Lakers player Bronny James, who suffered cardiac arrest while at USC, and Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, who collapsed during a nationally televised game. Those incidents highlighted both the dangers of the condition and the importance of immediate medical action.
Although Hearts on the Field is still in its early stages, the founders have already taken significant steps. They are registered as a nonprofit in California and are pursuing official 501(c)(3) status. Their mission is to save lives by promoting education, encouraging early recognition of symptoms, improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and advocating for comprehensive cardiac safety programs in schools and sports organizations.
To support their vision, Torres and Arzate brought together a team of current Wilson students and recent alumni to help lead the effort with current students Alesandra Rocha, Emma Jade Garcia, Leticia Tovar and Wilson alums Malayah Terry and Jessica Medrano.
Together this group is working to shape Hearts on the Field into a sustainable organization with long-term impact.
The organization’s future includes offering free CPR and AED certification classes to athletes, coaches, and even team captains. Torres explained the reasoning behind this approach using his own experience on the cross-country team as an example.
“I feel that if the team captain knows CPR that can provide an extra protection,” Torres said. “They’re the ones that are with the team 24/7. They’re the first ones to notice when something’s wrong.”
The group’s immediate financial need is $300 to complete the 501(c)(3) application, but Torres and Arzate emphasize that fundraising is a much broader goal. They hope to secure funding not only to cover startup costs but also to expand programming and provide life-saving training across the community.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Torres said. “We probably should have asked for more guidance along the way, but we’ve managed to figure things out. Right now, our biggest hurdle is fundraising so we can become fully registered and start expanding our programs.”
Despite the challenges of launching a nonprofit, both co-founders continue to balance their school and athletic responsibilities. Torres is enrolled in an EMT program at a local college while also completing dual-enrollment coursework, and Arzate remains active as a golfer at Wilson.
Torres and Arzate hope that Hearts on the Field will outlive their time in high school. They envision expanding into colleges, creating chapters across different campuses, and building a network of student leaders who can continue the work.
“Of course, it’s a big dream,” Arzate said. “But we want to reach as far as possible. Right now, our focus is student athletes, but ultimately this can impact anyone, anywhere.”
To help cover start-up expenses and raise awareness, the group has already scheduled fundraisers, including local restaurant events in September. Their first fundraiser will take place on September 19 at Raising Cane’s location at the Traffic Circle in Long Beach.
For more information about the organization or how to help visit heartsonthefield.org.
