Charlotte Latin's Michael Chadwick, 16, has always had a great athletic reputation to live up to, even within his own family.

His father, the Rev. David Chadwick, pastor at Forest Hills Church since 1980, was a key player for coach Dean Smith at UNC from 1967-71, also playing for the 1969 Final Four Tar Heel team. His older brother, David Banner Chadwick, is a sophomore forward on the Rice University basketball team, after starring at Charlotte Latin as an all-state forward.

Even Michael's older sister, Bethany, was an all-state volleyball player at Providence Day.

While Michael enjoyed basketball for most of his childhood, he decided in seventh grade he would pursue his future in the pool.

"Growing up, I always played basketball, and people thought I would be as good as my brother," Michael said. "But I never really loved the game, and I always loved being in the pool. I decided to take a different path, and really my entire life has sort of formed around swimming."

Michael, a 6-foot-5 junior at Charlotte Latin, started swimming when his next-door neighbor, Susan Flynn, put him in the pool at Olde Georgetowne Swim and Tennis Club. At Olde Georgetown, swimming coach Leslie Berens - now also South Meck's swimming coach and mother of U.S. Olympian and gold medalist Ricky Berens - noticed Chadwick's talent and potential. Berens' direction helped mold Michael's early ability in the pool and his love for the sport.

"Our joke is once Susan took Michael down to the pool when he was 7 years old, that he has never gotten out since," Michael's father said.

Michael Chadwick got more serious about swimming when he joined SwimMAC Carolinas' team, where he still works at least 25 hours per week under coach James Wike.

Chadwick had a breakout season for Latin last year in his sophomore year, capping it with a state championship in the 400-yard freestyle relay with teammates Colin Higgins, Will Gardner and McCallagh. Chadwick also finished third in the 500-yard freestyle, fifth in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 200-individual medley relay. At a New South meet in early December at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, Chadwick won the 100 freestyle and 200 IM in a field that included some of the best swimmers in the Southeast.

As a result, Chadwick started to receive college interest from schools like North Carolina, N.C. State and Auburn.

This story originally appeared in newsofsouthcharlotte.com