Beloved Cheerleading Coach Killed in Wisconsin Plant Explosion

Alex Perkins, known as 'Coach L,' was one of two employees who died in the March 18 incident at NaturPak industrial facility.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:25am

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A beloved cheerleading coach named Alex Perkins, known as 'Coach L' in the community, was among the two employees killed in an explosion at an industrial plant in Janesville, Wisconsin on March 18. Perkins was described as a person 'full of light' who had a profound impact on the lives of young cheerleaders. The other victim was identified as 55-year-old Roberto Martinez, a father and grandfather known for his strong work ethic.

Why it matters

This tragic incident has shaken the tight-knit cheerleading community that Perkins was deeply involved in, as well as the broader Janesville area. It also raises questions about workplace safety at the NaturPak industrial facility, which had experienced a previous explosion in February.

The details

The explosion occurred on March 18 at the NaturPak plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. Alex Perkins and Roberto Martinez were the two employees killed in the blast. Perkins was known as 'Coach L' and was a beloved figure in the local cheerleading community, having helped build up a cheer program at a facility that opened in 2020. The other victim, Martinez, was described as a hard-working father and grandfather. This was the second explosion at the NaturPak plant since February, prompting an OSHA investigation into the incidents.

  • The explosion occurred on March 18, 2026.
  • There was a previous explosion at the NaturPak plant in February 2026.

The players

Alex Perkins

A beloved cheerleading coach known as 'Coach L' in the local community, who was killed in the industrial plant explosion.

Roberto Martinez

A 55-year-old employee who was also killed in the explosion, described as a hard-working father and grandfather.

NaturPak

The industrial plant in Janesville, Wisconsin where the fatal explosion occurred, which had also experienced a previous explosion in February 2026.

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What they’re saying

“He is a person that's full of light. The moment he walks into the room, you are immediately drawn to his light, his persona. You see everything about him. He always wore his heart on his sleeve and would give his shirt off of his back to make sure that you were always taken care of.”

— Michael Mathos, Perkins' brother

“In 2020, we opened our own facility and he was one of the founding members that built our program to where it is today. He has impacted so many young lives along with their parents. And so kind of feeling that in the community has been hard, too, to maneuver through the impact that he made on all of these lives.”

— Ashley McMullin, Close friend of Perkins

“He never stopped being himself, and anyone who met him heard his laugh. He always made people laugh.”

— Jordan Mathos, Perkins' brother-in-law

What’s next

OSHA is currently investigating the two explosions that have occurred at the NaturPak plant in Janesville since February 2026. The company has said operations will remain paused in the area of the plant where the March 18 explosion occurred until it is deemed safe to return.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has deeply impacted the tight-knit cheerleading community that Alex Perkins was so deeply involved in, as well as the broader Janesville area. It serves as a somber reminder of the importance of workplace safety, especially in high-risk industrial settings, and the devastating human toll that can result from such accidents.