High school wrestler, 18, died in a lake a day after going missing during the swimming portion of a traditional school ‘scavenger hunt’ days before he was to graduate
- Victor Rodriguez disappeared from Lake Alcyon around 8:45 p.m. Sunday
- His body was found on Monday after a search involving multiple dive teams
A New Jersey high school wrestler has been found dead in a lake a day after he went missing while swimming as part of a traditional school “scavenger hunt” days before graduation.
Victor Rodriguez, 18, a senior and member of the Pitman High School wrestling team in Gloucester County, disappeared after going swimming in Alcyon Lake around 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
“There was one other person on the other side of the lake and one on this side of the lake and they both tried to help but they were quickly, sort of overwhelmed,” said the chief of Pitman Police Dan McAteer after his body was found. the lake on Monday, adding that they were checked by EMS upon their return.
Several dive teams, sonar equipment and cadaver dogs were used to find the teenager’s body after an overnight search, but grassy conditions in the lake made it difficult for the divers.
Swimming is not permitted in the 17.5-acre Lake Alcyon, which is about 10 to 12 feet deep, and it gets very dark in the area at night, making it difficult to patrol, McAteer said, according to NJ.com.
Victor Rodriguez, 18, a senior and member of the Pitman High School wrestling team in Gloucester County, disappeared after going swimming in Alcyon Lake around 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
“It is a vegetation that exists in the lake. It’s very thick,’ McAteer said, according to the outlet. ‘Deep rooted but comes very close to the surface.’
Rodriguez had attempted to swim across the lake as part of the school’s traditional scavenger hunt.
“It’s been going on for over 15 years,” senior Sean Powell told NBC 10. “One of the challenges is to swim across the lake to earn points. You get points for that. record and unfortunately something tragic happened.
He added: “It doesn’t even seem real. Honestly. I struggled for six months with the kid.
Pitman Borough Mayor Michael Razze said in a statement on Facebook: “It is with great sadness that after just over 17 hours of tedious and demanding work by many first responders, Victor has been recovered.”
“The mutual love and support from our community will help us through this difficult time. On behalf of the entire borough, our deepest condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and the PHS Class of 2023.’
Boats involved in the search operation on Lake Alcyon. The body was recovered from the lake on Monday
Rodriguez was enrolled at Deptford High for the first three years of school and Pitman High for only his senior year.
He posted a 30-8 record at 132 pounds at Pitman, reaching his first district final and advancing to the regional quarterfinals for the second year in a row, NJ.com reported.
On Monday evening, members of the Deptford and Pitman communities gathered at Pitman United Methodist Church for a vigil in remembrance of the life of the teenage athlete.
His brother Pablo wrote in a GoFundMe account: “It is with sadness in our hearts that we inform you of the (loss) of our beloved Victor. The tragedy remained last June 11 at Lake Alcyon, when Victor Rodriguez participated in a treasure hunt that went astray.
The fundraiser has so far raised over $50,000.
Rodriguez’s cap and gown will be placed on an empty seat at the school’s graduation on Wednesday night, NBC 10 reported.
