Those close to Jered Pyles knew him as a kind-hearted teen with diverse talents: He was athletic, studious and musical.

But Pyles, 17, of the East Side, had asthma and didn’t swim well, a relative said last night.

That is one factor investigators will consider as they determine what led to Pyles’ drowning yesterday afternoon at Alum Creek State Park.

He and his good friend Paul Michael Smith, 17, of Lewis Center, were swimming across a cove near the east bank of the lake, northwest of Africa and Plumb roads, authorities said.

Swimming isn’t permitted in that area, which is surrounded by woods, park law-enforcement manager Brad Copeland said.

They were about 50 feet from the edge when Pyles went under the water and never resurfaced, Smith told the Delaware County sheriff’s office. Smith made it across to the north end of the cove safely, then dialed 911 about 4:30 p.m.

The sheriff’s dive team arrived at 4:47 p.m. and went in the water at 5:30 p.m., Copeland said.

At 5:57 p.m., Pyles’ body was found in about 10 feet of water at the cove, he said.

Water-rescue response time is slower where swimming is banned, Copeland said.

"We ask folks that come out to the park to please use a designated swim area," Copeland said.

Furthermore, swimming in open water is risky because of changing depths and debris, said Jane Beathard, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Pyles, who would have turned 18 on June 13, had one week of classes left in his junior year at Worthington Christian High School.

At 6-foot-3, Pyles started at quarterback as a high-school sophomore and junior for the Columbus Crusaders football team, whose players attend private schools without teams or are home-schooled.

He and Smith, a running back and linebacker, were going to be co-captains next season, their coach, Mike Stanley, said.

Pyles also was a sprinter on the Worthington Christian track team.

In addition, Pyles played guitar and wrote songs for a local Christian rock band, Few-LeftStanding.

He and Smith had gone to the park to look for a place to camp out this weekend, said his brother-in-law, Sean Salmon.

The youngest of four children and the only boy, Pyles was a "great kid" who wanted to be a music producer after college.

"It is an extremely hard time for them, but they are a close, God-loving family and they will get through it," Salmon said.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

dwilson@dispatch.com 

mmarx@dispatch.com