GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL ATHLETE REMEMBERED AS ‘A LIGHT TO SO MANY’ AFTER TRAGIC CHAIN O’ LAKES DROWNING

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Family, friends, classmates, teammates, coaches, and members of the Grayslake community gathered over the weekend to honor the life of Brayan Monzanga, a 15-year-old Grayslake Central High School student and three-sport athlete whose life was cut short after a tragic drowning in the Chain O’ Lakes earlier this month. 

Visitation services were held Friday evening at The Chapel in Grayslake, followed by a final visitation, memorial service, and burial Saturday at St. Dismas Church in Waukegan, where loved ones celebrated a teenager remembered not only for his athletic ability but also for his kindness, humility, and unwavering positivity. 

Monzanga, a Round Lake resident, died on July 13 after disappearing beneath the water while swimming in Myers Bay, part of Pistakee Lake in the Chain O’ Lakes near Fox Lake. He was just 15 years old. 

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Monzanga had been aboard a recreational boat with friends when he entered the water to swim. Authorities said he either jumped from or fell off the boat and quickly went underwater, never resurfacing. Friends immediately entered the water in an attempt to rescue him but were unable to locate him before calling 911. Officials said Monzanga was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. 

The emergency response began shortly after 6 p.m., bringing together one of the region’s largest coordinated water rescue operations. The Fox Lake Fire Protection District, Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, and numerous fire departments from Lake and McHenry counties responded with divers, rescue boats, sonar equipment, underwater drones, and specialized personnel. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) activation brought additional marine rescue resources from across the region. 

Fox Lake Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Sam Santiago said crews initially treated the call as a rescue mission, deploying dive teams into the water multiple times. When those searches proved unsuccessful, responders transitioned to side-scan sonar technology to locate the missing teen.

One battalion chief familiar with the area helped establish an accurate “last seen” location, allowing search teams to focus their efforts. An aerial drone was also deployed to assist from above while sonar technicians scanned the lake below. 

Approximately 90 minutes into the operation—the point emergency officials consider the benchmark for a viable water rescue—the mission shifted from rescue to recovery. Shortly before 8 p.m., sonar operators located Monzanga beneath the water, and divers recovered his body around 7:50 p.m. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward. No other injuries were reported. 

The Lake County Coroner’s Office later determined Monzanga died as a result of drowning. The incident remains under investigation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police. 

At Grayslake Central High School, Monzanga was entering his sophomore year and had already become well known throughout the school community.

He competed in football, basketball, and track, earning respect from teammates and coaches alike as a dedicated student-athlete. District 127 Superintendent Mikkel Storaasli described him as a “beloved” member of the school community.

“He will be terribly missed by both our students and staff. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time,” Storaasli said, adding that student support services were immediately made available to anyone affected by the tragedy. 

Monzanga had previously attended Park Campus in Community Consolidated School District 46 before enrolling at Grayslake Central. School officials noted that his older brother also attends Grayslake Central, while younger siblings remain enrolled within District 46.

District 46 said the loss has deeply affected students, staff, and families throughout the district.

“We extend our deepest sympathy and support to his family and friends,” the district said in a statement, acknowledging that tragedies like this impact entire communities in different ways. 

Monzanga’s family shared additional insight into the young man behind the athlete in his obituary.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brayan immigrated to the United States with his family when he was just one year old after they were selected through the diversity visa lottery program. 

His family said sports became one of his greatest passions, but it was his personality that left the deepest impression on those around him.

They described him as someone remembered for his:

• High energy
• Humility
• Charming smile
• Respect for everyone he met
• Ability to inspire others to stay positive 

“Those that knew Brayan will always remember his big goofy smile,” his family wrote. “They will remember his ability to always be respectful to anyone he met and will remember his love for his family.”

They added that he “brought joy to the lives of so many and left a lasting impact on families, friends, classmates, teachers, teammates, and the Grayslake community.” 

Following his death, community members rallied around the Monzanga family. A fundraiser established to assist with funeral expenses and other unexpected costs received an overwhelming response, raising more than $62,000 from friends, neighbors, classmates, and supporters. The fundraiser described Brayan as a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, teammate, and friend whose impact extended far beyond the classroom and athletic field. 

His death has also renewed reminders from public safety officials about the importance of wearing life jackets during recreational boating and swimming, even for experienced swimmers. While Monzanga’s outing began as a summer day on the water with friends, it ended in a tragedy that has left an enduring mark on families throughout Lake County.