This article won honorable mention in the 2022 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
The Howe family has been at Northview for decades, and their legacy isn’t stopping yet. With a graduated sister, senior brother, a younger brother in middle school and a father who is a teacher and coach, sophomore Caleb Howe is used to people knowing who he is.
“It’s kind of nice and sometimes it’s fun, but a lot of times it’s embarrassing, because [my dad] always tells embarrassing stories in class, and random people come up to me and tell me what my dad [said],” Howe said.
The teasing relationship their family has doesn’t stop Howe from following in his father’s footsteps. Howe is a varsity athlete for both the tennis and swim team but has a special relationship with each sport.
“[Tennis] isn’t as physically demanding as swimming, you can just go out and really have fun,” Howe said. “It’s a lot more of a mental game.”
However, his passion for swimming is greater.
“I enjoy swimming more,” Howe said. “I really like the relationships I’ve made, and I like the physical challenge that I have during practice.”
Howe currently has family in both sports, with his older brother Noah playing both sports and his father, Matt Howe, coaching tennis. However, the Howe family has been involved in sports together for most of his life, with a long list of family members swimming and playing tennis as well.
The result of growing up together on and off the court and deck has formed an unbreakable bond between the brothers and father.
“[My brother and I] were brought up on the same swim team,” Howe said. “My whole family has done sports together for most of our life. I feel like without sports we wouldn’t have been able to share so many memories as we do right now.”
Head coach for the boy’s varsity swim team Rob Damuth knows something about legacy swimmers, with two kids of his own currently swimming for him. He understands the relationships that are created.
“I think it’s being part of a family, being a part of a program that both his parents grew up in. It’s kind of like a family legacy to be involved with some programs,” Damuth said. “I think he takes great pride in that.”
Sophomore Michael Hoard is one of Howe’s closest friends and has a unique perspective of Howe’s personality.
“He’s really funny, and when he gets focused, he can really help other people focus and get people motivated,” Hoard said, “And he’s fast, so that helps the team out a lot. He scores lots of points.”
Both Howe and Hoard work together to get ready mentally. They build each other up and try to encourage themselves to work hard for their dreams.
“We like talking about our goals and stuff and it helps us [to] talk about it and it motivates us to get it more,” Hoard said. “We like racing and competing against each other.”
Since swimming is a very competitive sport by definition, being part of a family name carries expectations, especially as a top athlete.
“I have a lot of pressure to beat other people because lots of times, it comes down to the final race,” Howe said. “That pressure gets to you because if you win the race, then your team wins, but if you lose, your team loses.”
Howe is prepared for the pressure. Although it hasn’t always been easy for him, he’s found a way to deal with it.
“It’s just experience,” Howe said. “The more you’re used to it, the more your body is comfortable with it and you just have to take a couple of deep breaths and [know that] no matter what, it’ll end up okay.”
Damuth appreciates the dependability of Howe and is excited for what he’s going to achieve this season.
“[Howe] brings a lot of versatility [and] a hard work ethic,” Damuth said. “We’re projecting him to make a state cut in both the [individual medley] and the butterfly, hopefully scoring in the 100 fly at the state meet.”
Howe is devoted to these goals as well. He knows what he wants to do, and he’s prepared to work for it.
“I like being able to prove to myself that I can do stuff, and I have goals set for me and it brings me joy to complete [them] and show myself that I can do what I put myself to,” Howe said.
Howe values the bonds he’s created with his teammates. He knows that the connections he’s made through sports are different than any other.
“The relationships [are] one of the main reasons why I love each sport so much. I’m not one of those types of people that go up to people and immediately make friends, but with sports that relationship is built-in,” Howe said. “When [you’re] friends with your teammates it can make the [whole] sport better.”
That positivity can go both ways, and Damuth sees how Howe makes his own unique mark on the team.
“I think he’s a good role model for those that may not be feeling it that day, [who can] look at him and say, ‘He’s working hard, so I need to work hard,’” Damuth said. “I think setting a good example [is something] he embodies.”
