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Fairport's Melanie Roberts comes from clan with an affinity for the
sport
Ben Jacobs
Staff Writer
(November 21, 2003) — FAIRPORT — You could say success runs in the family,
but it would be more accurate to say that the Roberts family is swimming in
talent. When Fairport freshman Melanie Roberts takes to the pool in this
weekend’s state meet on Long Island, she will follow her father, Charlie,
and her brother, Jon.
“ I swam all through high school and college and so I knew a lot about the
sport,” said Charlie, who went to high school in Iowa, swam at the
University of Iowa and participated in the Olympic trials in 1980. “ So, we
ended up getting the kids into swimming pretty young.”
Charlie didn’t just pass his talent and his knowledge of the sport on to his
children; he also passed on his love for it.
“ I started swimming when I was 9 because my dad was a swimmer and he
obviously loved it,” said Jon, a junior at Fairport. “ A year later, my
sister started swimming because I told her how much I loved it and she
wanted to be like me.”
Melanie will have her chance to be just like Jon in the state meet. Jon has
won six state titles in two years, including the 100-yard breaststroke and
two relays as a freshman.
Coming off her Swimmer of the Meet performance at sectionals, Melanie will
have a chance to duplicate her brother’s feat by winning the 100
breaststroke and helping Fairport win the 200 medley relay.
“ That would be something, wouldn’t it?” said Fairport coach Mike Kennedy. “
To have siblings do that, it would be quite an accomplishment.”
When she first started swimming, Melanie never would have imagined racing
for a state title.
“ First, I just thought of it as a hobby and a fun thing to do,” she said. “
When I joined my club team, I started to think of it as a more serious sport
and I started competing in bigger competitions.”
Melanie didn’t really know what to expect of her first high school season,
but she’s been pleased with her success.
“ I thought it would be just a regular swimming experience, but it’s really
been much more than that,” she said. “ The times that I set this year
surprised me and the friendships I made and the coaches I met. They really
helped me a lot.”
Kennedy knew Melanie would be a special swimmer, but he was especially
impressed by how eager she was to improve.
“ She’s just a very, very determined student athlete. She sets goals for
herself and she strives to better herself as an athlete and as a person,” he
said.
“ The biggest thing is her willingness to get better. She’s a great listener
and when she hears something, she will adapt it into trying to get better in
the pool and outside the pool.”
Kennedy also sees Melanie’s family as a big reason for her success, and
Jon’s.
“ It starts from their mom and dad. They’re very down-to-earth, put family
first and do whatever’s best for the kids. It’s just an outstanding family,”
he said. “ To be successful in athletics, you’ve got to have a very
successful home life, and that just gels from mom and dad.”
Charlie is thrilled that his children have embraced the sport he loved so
much himself.
“ It’s great,” he said. “ In particular, that they both liked the same
sport. It makes it easier and it’s fun to watch them both.”
Jon’s third season swimming for Fairport will begin soon, but for now he is
just happy to sit with his parents and cheer for his sister’s success —
especially since it seems so familiar.
“ It’s been exciting, really exciting, to watch her achieve the same things
I did in the same events,” he said.
“ It kind of feels like it runs in the family. I’m very proud of her.”
Starting with this weekend, Melanie expects to give Jon and her parents even
more to be proud of.
“ I’m looking forward to more fun, meeting new people and setting better
goals and achieving them,” she said.
“ I hope to improve a lot each year and swim in college.”
Originally published in the Democrat and
Chronicle
Pertinent Links
2003 Team
2003 Sectionals
2003 States
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