NJ high school wrestler found dead in lake after ‘scavenger hunt’ tragedy
An 18-year-old New Jersey high school wrestler has been found dead in a lake — a day after he disappeared while swimming as part of a traditional school “scavenger hunt,” officials said Monday.
Victor Rodriguez, a senior and member of the wrestling team at Pitman High School in Gloucester County, went missing after going swimming in Alcyon Lake about 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
“He became submerged,” Pitman Police Chief Dan McAteer said after the teen’s body was recovered Monday, NBC 10 reported.
“There was another 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, kind of overwhelmed themselves,” he said, adding that they returned to shore and were checked by EMS.
Several dive teams, including from the New Jersey State Police, cadaver dogs and sonar equipment were used to locate Rodriguez’s body after an overnight search.
Grassy conditions in the lake made it difficult for the divers.
“It’s a vegetation that exists in the lake. It’s very thick,” McAteer said, according to the news outlet. “Deeply rooted but comes very close to the surface.”
Swimming is not allowed in the 17.5-acrea Alcyon Lake, which is about 10 to 12 feet deep, and the area is very dark at night, making it difficult to patrol, McAteer said, according to NJ.com.
The lake was formerly a contaminated Superfund site that was polluted by runoff from the nearby Lipari Landfill, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
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.”
He added: “The mutual love and support of our community will help to carry us through this difficult time. On behalf of the entire borough, our deepest condolences to his family, friends, fellow students, and the PHS Class of 2023.”
Rodriguez had been trying to swim across the lake as part of a scavenger hunt that was considered a tradition at the school.
“It’s been going on for 15-plus years,” senior Sean Powell told NBC 10. “One of the challenges is to swim across the lake for points. You get points for it. You gotta record it and unfortunately something tragic happened.”
He added: “It doesn’t even feel real. Honestly. I wrestled like half a year with the kid.”
Rodriguez — who spent his first three seasons at Deptford High School — posted a 30-8 record at 132 pounds at Pitman, reaching his first district final and qualifying for the regional quarterfinals for the second straight year, NJ.com reported.
On Monday night, members of the Deptford and Pitman communities gathered at Pitman’s United Methodist Church for a vigil to mourn the student 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. Tragedy stuck this past June 11th at Alcyon Lake, when Victor Rodriguez participated in a scavenger hunt that went astray.”
The fundraiser has raised more than $47,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
An empty seat will have Rodriguez’s cap and gown on it during the school’s graduation Wednesday night, NBC 10 reported.
