Former College Football Teammates Drown In Lake Michigan Near Holland: Sheriff

PORT SHELDON TOWNSHIP, MI — A pair of college football teammates drowned in Lake Michigan in Port Sheldon Township on Saturday, according to sheriff's officials.

Officials identified the two men as Jalen Shaffer, 26, of Grand Rapids, and Philip Lochirco, 24, of Warrenville, Illinois.

Officials said the former Wheaton College football players were among a group of people gathered at a pier near the Pigeon Lake Channel in Ottawa County.

At 1:13 p.m., officials said Lochirco and others jumped into the water.

Lochirco was then "having difficulties," which prompted several other people, including Shaffer, to jump into the lake and try to rescue him, officials said.

Shaffer also began to struggle and went under the water, officials said.

Bystanders pulled one of the men to shore and officials shortly later brought the other man to shore. Both Shaffer and Lochirco were pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, officials said.

Police say there is an ongoing investigation but said there was no apparent foul play in connection with the incident.

According to Wheaton College Athletics, Lochirco, originally from Yorkville, was a civil engineering and political science major who played as a defensive lineman. Shaffer, a business and economics major, played as a linebacker.

A celebration of life for Shaffer is planned for June 19. No obituary information was available for Lochirco as of Tuesday morning.

In a statement, Wheaton College Head Football Coach Jesse Scott said, "Our hearts are heavy as we share the tragic passing of Jalen and Phil."

Scott added, "They were more than former players in our program — they were brothers, teammates, and friends whose lives left a lasting impact on Wheaton Football. Both Jalen and Phil were great examples of what it means to be Wheaton Football players: men who pursued excellence in what they did on and off the field, but more importantly, men who wanted others to know and love Jesus and who were fiercely committed to their faith."

Patch Editor Lisa Marie Farver contributed to this report