Swimming may not be a high-profile sport like football or basketball, but it certainly produced one of the top athletes in the area.

Ches Chesson overcame a broken leg to capture the area's lone state championship, winning the 100-meter freestyle event at the 1A/2A State Swimming and Diving Championships in Raleigh in February.

File photo by Brett A. Clark (ENLARGE)

Edenton's Ches Chesson competes in the 200-meter freestyle during a meet Jan. 23 at the Albemarle Family YMCA.

The championship was the first-ever individual swimming title at John A. Holmes High School.

After placing fourth in the 200 and fifth in the 50 freestyle as a junior, Chesson set his sights on a fourth trip to the state meet and a state championship to cap off his senior season.

But that goal was almost derailed a few weeks before the season began. Chesson suffered a broken leg playing soccer and was out of action for about five weeks. Still unable to walk, Chesson was able to get back in the pool.

"My whole soccer season I was lifting for swim season," Chesson said. "When I broke my leg, when I saw it was broken on the field, that is the only thing I was thinking about. I was upset that I couldn't swim.

"I started swimming right when I was able to get off my pain medicine. That helped me with my recovery a lot."

He had a rod put in his leg rather than wear a cast, allowing him to enter the pool sooner. Even with a broken leg, Chesson easily made state a qualifying time and continued to improve as the season progressed.

Chesson admits his leg still is not at 100 percent, but he swam his best times of the season at state. He won the 100 in a time of 49.87 seconds, but notched a 49.62 in the preliminaries. He also set a personal best in the 200 with a 1:52.11.

"Luckily, my leg was not as big a factor as in soccer with running," Chesson said.

Just after the state meet, Chesson received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He will leave July 2 for Annapolis, Md., and plans on trying to walk-on to the swim team.

Chase Hartley

Camden

State qualifier in 2 individual, 2 relay events

Nick Kovalev

Northeastern

State qualifier in 1 individual, 1 relay event

Cameron Waldebart

Currituck

State qualifier in 2 individual events

Taylor Adlon

Northeastern

State qualifier in 1 individual, 1 relay event

Rachel McCarthy

Edenton

State qualifier in 100M backstroke

Miranda Wood

Pasquotank

State qualifier in 200M freestyle relay

Mylia Pelos

Currituck

Third in 200M freestyle at NCC meet

Benji Bishop

Edenton

State qualifier in 100M freestyle

Joshua Butler

Pasquotank

Fifth in 100M breaststroke at NCC meet

Daniel Belt

Northeastern

State qualifier in 1 individual, 1 relay event