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Football team, Port Washington community remembers Buczek
Football team, Port Washington community remembers Buczek
PORT WASHINGTON -- The body of 15-year-old Tyler Buczek was recovered around noon on Thursday, September 6th. Port Washington Fire Department divers made the recovery about 200 yards off shore from the Water Treatment Plant -- near where Buczek was last seen.
Buczek was swimming with friends on Sunday, September 2nd when he disappeared just east of the filtration plant in Port Washington.
Divers searched locations Monday where sonar had hits on Sunday. However, the visibility was extremely low because of the rough water conditions. Late Monday, the search was suspended.
Buczek served as the quarterback for Port Washington High School's freshman football team. Friends say he was valedictorian for last year’s eighth-grade class at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
Port Washington High School has made counselors to talk with students about Buczek's death.
The Port Washington High School freshman football team played its first game on Thursday, September 6th on their home field. They took on Mequon's Homestead at 6 p.m. It would have been Buczek's first game of the season, and teammates paid tribute to him in a special way.
Thursday's game began with a moment of silence to mourn the loss of Buczek. Balloons were released into the air, symbolizing a release of the family's pain, and hope for the family, who are struggling to make it one day at a time.
"It's pretty rough. The kids are holding up. Kim and Joe - the mom and dad, are stronger than I can ever be, taking it in stride. They are doing well and having good and bad moments," Ward Wojciehowski, who helped plan Thursday's tribute said.
The team presented Buczek's family with roses as they consoled each other one by one. Buttons were handed out and decals bearing Buczek's initials were worn by all of the school's football players.
"He was really one of those people who was just nice and genuine and he knew everyone. People like that will always be remembered," one Port H.S. student said.
As the team played hard in Buczek's honor Thursday evening, classmates mourned but also said they believe the game and tribute was a celebration of Buczek's life.
All this week, students at Port Washington High School and members of the community wore blue and green -- blue for drowning awareness and green because it was Buczek's favorite color.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.
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