Ryan Cline, basketball player and junior, was first introduced to a basketball at the age of one, and he continued from there. Ryan said he started playing organized basketball 10 years ago.

According to Ryan, his dad had an influence on his decision.

“I decided to play basketball because of him. He kind of influenced me to play basketball. He’s pretty much taught me to love it,” Ryan said.

Ryan’s dad, Michael “Mike” Cline, said he introduced Ryan to the game.

“I played basketball at Ohio State, so I definitely gave him a ball when he was old enough to handle a smaller ball, when he was around one, and gave him every opportunity to play,” Mr. Cline said.

Like Ryan, juniors and swimmers Kelsey and Haley Harris, also started a sport at a young age due to parental influence.

“We started swimming when we were really young, and it helped to have our dad to have a background in swimming so he could help us with our technique and give us some advice,” Kelsey said.

In addition, their dad Bill Harris, who swam at the University of Michigan, stated he got them to swim since kindergarten.

“My wife and I agreed that we wanted the girls to learn how to swim so they would be comfortable around the water. We enrolled them in a swim lesson at Lifetime fitness where they started kindergarten. After a couple years of doing lessons there, we then enrolled them in the stroke development program offered at Carmel High School. From there, it was just a natural bridge to the Carmel Swim Club program,” Mr. Harris said via email.

Mr. Harris said he leaves the coaching to the coaches, but still leaves occasional feedback whenever he needs to.

“There are excellent coaches associated with the Carmel program who I respect a great deal.  And after their races, I am always asking, ‘What did your coach say about your race?’ But like any parent with some knowledge of the sport, I will provide them some tips and feedback from time to time.  In addition, my wife and I try to help them most with our support outside the pool and by helping them balance their schedule and workload,” Mr. Harris said.

Mr. Cline said he’s been coaching Ryan since fourth grade.

“I coached him in Pup’s Basketball and I was the head coach in fourth, fifth and sixth grade and then he started in AAU Basketball outside of high school basketball in April, May and July. I’ve coached him in the eighth, ninth, 10th, and now I’ll coach him in the 11th (in AAU),” Mr. Cline said.

Even though the Harris’ dad swam in college, both girls said they never felt the pressure to match up to his success.

“I feel like it never really put pressure on us because he allowed us to be free to make our decisions about swimming and stuff and it definitely motivated us to be as good as he was,” Kelsey said.

However, Ryan said he doesn’t feel the same when asked if he’s ever pressured about living up to his dad’s legacy.

“Yeah kinda, but I don’t really think about that a lot. No one really tells me anything like that,” Ryan said.

Mr. Cline, for his part, has expectations for his son.

“I’ve had expectations to at least give him the knowledge and what it took to play very competitive basketball whether it be D1 (Division 1), college or a major level,” Mr. Cline said. “At least give him the tools to work with so if he did want to do it he would have had the opportunity.”