FINDLAY, Ohio — Football Friday at Liberty-Benton High School was a little different than others this week. Something was missing.
Liberty-Benton freshman Andrew Walker died unexpectedly from what school officials described Thursday as an unknown medical condition.
To give the community a chance to mourn the loss, there was a moment of silence and the marching band played "Amazing Grace," just for him. Walker was in the marching band and became good friends with Bryce Mizen.
"Relatively recently we got pretty close, and it was just he was a very kind soul," Mizen said. "I don't think there was a time he was mad at anybody. He was an original person. That's part of why we loved him. He was Andrew Walker, there's no changing that. He was who he was."
Walker was a member of the drumline. But as the band honored his memory Friday, Liberty-Benton Band Director Thomas Holben played his part.
"Looking over and not seeing Andrew standing there playing his bass drum, that's something else," Mizen said. "Pretty surreal."
The band director told WTOL 11 that Walker's death was a huge loss for him and the band.
As students grieve, the district will provide counselors for those in need.
"There's been a lot of healing. Students consoling students, staff consoling students, staff consoling each other," Superintendent Bruce Otley said. "It's a terrible tragedy but we'll get through this together."
Principal Ben Gerken remembered Walker as more than a student.
"It a personal thing," Gerken said. "I've known Andrew for a long time. Our kids kind of grew up together."
He said it's going to be difficult to continue the school without Walker, but he won't be forgotten.
"Hopefully, our kids will recognize the impact Andrew had and we can do the best we can to honor his memory," he said.
The football team went on to win and secured the Blanchard Valley Conference title by a score of 44-22 over McComb.
Many people shared memories of how Walker was the Liberty-Benton sports reporter. Walker kept his social media up to date with the latest sports news.
It's just one of many things people in the whole community will miss about him.