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Vigil in Honor of Schuylkill County Drowning Victim

SHENANDOAH — Dozens of students, parents, and community members gathered inside the auditorium at Shenandoah Valley Junior/Senior High School Tuesday nigh...

SHENANDOAH -- Dozens of students, parents, and community members gathered inside the auditorium at Shenandoah Valley Junior/Senior High School Tuesday night to say goodbye to Tolik Stutts, who drowned last week.

"Even if you weren't close to him, everybody knew who he was, how he was. He would always make everybody smile no matter what, even if he was close to them or not," said classmate Katy Hernandez.

"Like once you lose a part of our family, like we're all getting affected. I don't know. Losing him was just a big upset," agreed friend Alvin Ortiz.

Stutts was a high school sophomore at Shenandoah Valley. He played football for the SV Blue Devils.

Last week, investigators said Stutts was with a friend and jumping from rock ledges into a local swimming hole known as “Suckers Pit” when he went under and did not resurface.

"I didn't believe it. I thought it was a rumor. I didn't want to believe. I feel like he's somewhere around here. I can't believe it," said friend Carly Teaschenko.

In response to the tragedy, students organized a ceremony and vigil at the school. There was a balloon release, too, in honor of Stutts.

They said they hope the event helps the community, especially Stutts' family, heal.

"When you're a Blue Devil, you're always a Blue Devil. All of us Blue Devils stick together and we're always here for each other, so it's always hard when we lose one of our own," said classmate Rocco Roguskie.

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