Pitman High School seniors marked a bittersweet milestone Wednesday as they gathered for their graduation ceremony, just two days after the recovery of the body of classmate who was supposed to graduate along side them.
Friends, family and community members gathered on Davis Field in the Gloucester County borough to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2023 while grieving the loss of student-athlete Victor Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, a standout wrestler for the high school, went missing while swimming in Alcyon Lake Sunday night around 8:30 p.m., authorities said.
His body was recovered Monday afternoon by New Jersey State Police who said the 18-year-old drowned while trying to swim across the 17-acre lake. Pitman’s mayor later said Rodriguez was trying to cross the lake while participating in an unauthorized scavenger hunt for high school seniors.
Despite the student’s death, the high school graduation ceremony held on the field at Pitman Middle School, proceeded as scheduled Wednesday.
Ensuring that the memory of their classmate remained alive throughout the event, graduates wore white ribbons pinned to their black and orange gowns.
Additionally, a chair adorned with Rodriguez’s cap and gown was displayed, and following a moment of silence, the student’s two brothers accepted his diploma on his behalf.
“Victor, an athlete and a friend and a presence, not only to senior classmates, but to all within the halls of Pitman High School,” principal Cherie Hill Lombardo said at the ceremony.
“His infectious smile, his willingness to engage in conversation with classmates and teachers and most notably, his true love of wrestling are just a few of the things that made him so remarkable,” she continued in her speech.
Rodriguez spent his first three wrestling seasons at Deptford High School before transferring and finishing his career with a 54-22 record at Pitman.
The night that Rodriguez went missing, he was participating in the senior scavenger hunt — a tradition organized by graduating seniors every year, according Mayor Michael L. Razze Jr.
It involves completing tasks from a list created by students, he said. This year, one of the tasks was to swim across Alcyon Lake. The borough and school did not approve or organize this scavenger hunt, officials said.
Many students stayed at the lake for several hours after Rodriguez went missing, awaiting an update from police, Razze said Tuesday.
“Some of us had been out there the entire time, from the time the call came down to first responders…up until he was found and recovered (Monday) by the State Police,” the mayor said.
As a wrester for the Pitman Panthers, Rodriguez posted a 30-8 record at 132 pounds in his senior year, reaching his first district final and qualifying for the region quarterfinals for the second straight year. He helped his team to a 19-9 record and the Tri-County Conference Classic Division title.
“Even though Victor was a student from Deptford who was going to Pitman High School…it felt as if he grew up here his entire life, so it’s a tough time for all for everyone,” Razze said.
Photographer Dave Hernandez contributed to this report.
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Nyah Marshall may be reached at [email protected]