• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

PORT WASHINGTON- A teenager who drowned in Lake Michigan is being remembered in Port Washington.

Tyler Buczek's classmates are coping as they return to school.

TODAY'S TMJ4's Annie Scholz reports there was a sense of sadness at Port Washington High School as students remember Tyler, who would have been a freshman this year.

Instead of sharing the school halls with him on the first day of class, they paid tribute to his memory.

The opening day of school was exciting for many, but also was filled with sorrow over the loss of their friend and fellow student.

"He was just a really smart, intelligent kid and he was great with sports and he'll really be missed," said sophomore Kirsten Tenpenny.

Tyler was swimming with friends in Lake Michigan Sunday when he went under, and never came back up.  A parent's worst nightmare played out in real life for Jodi Drews.

"I was down by the lake that night he went missing, I just watched the helicopter circle around and I had tears in my eyes because it's very sad," said Drews.

A tough conversation for Drews to have with her own daughter.  "I just could not fathom, I just couldn't imagine anything these parents and friends are going through right now."

Students wore blue Tuesday in Tyler's honor.  The school also set aside time for kids to remember him through art projects.

"I personally grew a lot of strength from the students, they are coming together, they care about each other," said Port Washington principal Eric Burke.

And they're trying to move on, all while keeping who Tyler was in their hearts.

"It makes me proud of the community I'm in because we can all get together and pray and show Tyler that we will do what we normally do and we know he's watching down on us," said Tenpenny.

The principal says those art projects to remember Tyler will continue throughout the week.  They're planning a tribute during the varsity football game on Thursday.