The Houchins family has made a way of life in the swimming pool. (Photo by: Megan O'Donnell, VYPE High School Sports Magazine/VYPE.com)
Jun 22, 2009
Dive into the Houchins’ history and you’ll understand why this Raleigh family of five has made a splash in the sport of swimming. Wet hair, a Speedo and goggles is the look this family has made the norm.
“I’ve always said, if you can get up in front of a thousand people in a Speedo and perform, you can do anything,” said Eddy Houchin, four-time All-American at N.C. State in late 70’s.
Eddy’s wife, Jane, was also an All-American swimmer at N.C. State in the late 70’s. She was a sprint freestyler and member of the 200 free relay that set the American record in her sophomore, junior and senior years. Eddy excelled in the individual medley and butterfly events. He was also a four-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 200 individual medley. During their college careers, the Wolfpack also won the ACC Championship each year.
“It was a great way to grow up as a swimmer,” said Jane. “Swimming makes you focus on your time. You make life-long friends. We’re still close to many we swam with at N.C. State.”
“We grew up faster and had so many opportunities,” said Eddy. “I remember at 11 years old, I was traveling to California for national meets and the other kids in my class had only read about California.”
Eddy jokes that he tried to gear his three kids into “revenue sports” but for Joe, Charlie and Abby, they ultimately committed to swimming.
“Our parents only rule was that if we started something, we see it through, no matter the sport,” said Joe, who began swimming year-round at age seven.
“I was always chasing my brother and doing what he did,” said Charlie, three years younger than Joe. “When he gave up soccer so did I. I concentrated on trying to beat him and his friends in the pool.”
“Swimming is a more internally driven sport than most team sports,” said Joe, a law student at Ole Miss. “With each workout you’re able to judge your improvement. You have much more control over your success and I liked that.”
“Abby was dragged to so many swim meets when she was young, I think getting in the water was just more interesting than peaking in people’s coolers,” said Jane. “Initially her goal was just to win a ribbon in every color but soon her competitive streak came out. She gave up gymnastics by the fifth grade.”
All three Houchin kids competed year-round for the YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA) and during the school year for William G. Enloe High School. The boys were part of a nine-year reign for the Eagles as State Champs.
Joe excelled in butterfly and the individual medley events. He was a high school All-American his senior year and went on to swim for George Mason University. At GMU, he won the Colonial Athletic Conference title in the 200 butterfly his junior and senior seasons. He was also a part of the first place 800 freestyle relay at the CAA Championships his senior year. In addition to his accomplishments in the water, Joe earned academic honors including the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll throughout his college career. Swimming has impacted all aspects of his life. The 23- year-old still works out everyday and is pursuing a law degree and a career in NCAA litigation, where he can protect the interests of student/athletes.
“The discipline swimming demands really prepared me for college and life after college,” said Joe. “Swimmers also have an inner confidence that really sets us up to handle other things in life.”
Charlie was a four-time All-American freestyler in high school, excelling in the 200 and 500 races. He was the state champion and state record holder in the 200 and 500 free his senior season.
“I was fortunate to have Joe with me ′til my sophomore year of high school,” said Charlie. “But when he left for college, there was no one to chase. I wasn’t sure how the transition would go. I had to start chasing after my own goals and find my inner drive. My coach Ron Turner (now an assistant coach at Clemson) really worked with me to reach my potential.”
In 2005, he made the U.S. National Junior Team and was able to compete in his first international meet in Hawaii. He also competed in several freestyle and butterfly events at the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
“I really just stumbled into these opportunities but to wear the red, white and blue is pretty awesome,” said Charlie. “I was definitely nervous that first time but a good nervous.”
Charlie currently swims for the University of Michigan. The junior hopes to be able to pursue his Olympic dreams in 2012 if he can swim and support himself after college. He is enrolled in the department of kinesiology and pursuing a degree in sports management.
Abby found her success in breaststroke and is currently a junior at Enloe High School.
“Charlie is actually terrible at breaststroke,” joked Abby, who was initially known as Charlie’s little sister. “I’ve finally settled into a leadership role on the team and being strong in breaststroke has helped me. It’s been neat though having our family name be synonymous with swimming.”
Abby has already decided to pursue a college swimming scholarship. Her brothers admit their sister takes academics much more seriously than they did and she will have her choice of top schools. In addition to swimming, Abby plays the violin and can often be found on weekends playing for the elderly at the Covington Assisted Living Center in Raleigh.
The Houchins are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. There has never been any sibling rivalry, never any pressure from mom and dad to attend practice, win races or live up to their accomplishments. Rather, the Houchin children were inspired by their parents.
“It would’ve been so easy for them to say ‘go faster’ but they didn’t do that,” said Charlie. “It was neat going to N.C. State Alumni weekends as a kid and to see their names on up on the wall and to watch coaches come up and talk to them like they were ‘somebody’.”
“To our advantage, we were able to meet some Olympians that made big impressions, Dan Harrigan (bronze medal in 200 backstroke, Montreal 1976) and Steve Gregg (silver medal in 200 butterfly, Montreal 1976) that swam with my Mom and Dad,” said Joe.
“It was our turn to be parents,” said Eddy. “They’ve always had fun racing and that is the flavor we wanted to continue.”
“It didn’t matter whether the kids won or lost as long as they won or lost well (as good sports),” said Jane. “We really appreciate what they do and are very proud of them.”
The swimming lifestyle-- full of wet towels, flip-flops and spandex-- has been a choice the Houchins have not regretted. The smell of chlorine has translated into the sweet smell of success both in and out of the water.
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