DANVILLE — The route to success can begin almost anywhere and take many different directions.
Schlarman Academy junior Charles Medlin wound up reaching this weekend’s IHSA State swim meet because of his older sister, Mae Grace Medlin.
“Originally, neither one of us was going to be on a swim team,’’ Charles Medlin said. “My sister got into swimming because of a summer camp at the Danville Family Y. They camp directors said she was pretty good and she beg my parents (Scot Medlin and Carol Wade) to be on the team.
“So rather than babysit me at the Y during her practices, they stuck me in swim lessons and I wound up joining the team later.’’
And, it was a pretty good thing.
“I really love it. I like being competitive and I liked how it keeps me in shape,’’ Medlin said. “I also had some natural talent.’’
In club level swimming, Medlin was part of relay team that qualified for nationals a year ago and this year, he won both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at Saturday’s Urbana Sectional, qualifying him for the state meet on Friday and Saturday.
“Last year, I couldn’t imagine having the type of cuts it took to go to state,’’ he said. “I was second and third at last year’s sectional meet, and then, I realized it was possible.
“I was the top-seeded performer in the 50 free coming into the sectional this year.’’
So, what has made the difference?
“Just keeping my nose to the grindstone — just working at it,’’ he said. “I’ve been pretty locked in. I also started a dry land program and I fixed some of my technique.
“There was a lot of easy speed to be found.’’
Heading into Friday’s prelims at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Medlin is seeded fourth in 50 freestyle and 13th in the 100 freestyle.
The top eight from the prelims qualify for the A Final, while the next eight qualify for the B Final. The top 12 finishers earn all-state honors.
According to IHSA records, no Schlarman athlete has ever medaled at the state meet.
“I think I have a very good chance to make the A Final in the 50 free so that is pretty cool,’’ Medlin said. “I’m not used to having all of this attention on me, but then again, I’ve never really doe anything of note.’’
On Friday, Medlin along with Schlarman’s boys basketball and scholastic bowl teams will be honored during a pep assembly.
“It’s a different feeling,’’ Medlin said. “Swimming is the center of my life and what I devote most of my time to, but I don’t like to brag about it.
“I good at it and I enjoy it.’’
That’s why he is pretty nonchalant about this weekend’s state meet.
“I’ve been against some pretty insane opponents, some pretty fast people in club swimming,’’ he said. “This isn’t going to be any different.’’
Medlin admits that having some of his club teammates like Wade Pyle from Normal, Johnathon Freeburg from Champaign Central and Emmett Kerns from Mahomet-Seymour also at state is a good thing.
“Wade and I are side-by-side lanes for the 100 freestyle,’’ Medlin said. “We like racing against each, so there is bragging rights on the line.’’