Port Washington community honors teen who drowned in Lake Michigan
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Steve Chamraz reports Video by tmj4.com
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PORT WASHINGTON- The body of a Port Washington teenager was recovered from Lake Michigan Thursday. Coincidentally, a tribute to Tyler Buczek was planned for Thursday night.
It has been an agonizing week for this community, but Thursday night's freshman football game was another step on their road to healing.
Tyler Buczek was supposed to be playing on Port Washington's freshman football team.
Instead -- he was everywhere. On players helmets, on buttons in the crowd, and on everyone's minds.
Alex Michalowski says a heaviness has hung over the first week of school.
"It's hard to see all the freshmen the sophomores and everyone who was affected, that's the hardest part..." said Michalowski to TODAY'S TMJ4.
The incoming freshman disappeared Sunday while swimming in Lake Michigan. It was around noon Thursday his body surfaced about 200 yards off shore -- in water 10 feet deep.
"He was just really nice one of those kids who just knows everyone and he was involved in a lot of things..." said Bianca Benkley.
So the community came together to honor Tyler Thursday night.
"It's bittersweet. As a school it's brought us together more. I feel like I know the freshmen more than I would have had this not happened..." explained Michalowski.
Tyler would have been the quarterback in Port Washington's football game.
He was also the valedictorian of his middle school.
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