When an athlete goes to the state finals in an individual sport four times, people sit up and take notice. When that athlete is also a model student, people shake their heads in amazement.

Tippecanoe Valley's Scott Whetstone is that type of student-athlete. He will compete in the swimming state finals on the IUPUI campus in two events this year, the 100 and 200 freestyles.

As if that weren't enough, Whetstone was named to the Three Rivers Conference All-Academic Team. His 10.6 grade-point average on a 12-point scale puts him fifth out of 136 students in the senior class at Valley.

In this day and age, it is odd to see a high-school kid with so much potential trying to be a well-rounded person and a respected member of his community.

"It goes back to my parents," Whetstone said. "They kept me on the right side. I got out here in the swimming program, and it's been a pretty good home. Right now, I'm watching some of the younger kids that are coming up, and I've been able to be something for them and help them out. That keeps me going."

Whetstone started swimming when he was 8 years old. Valley head Coach Steve Doerscher has been with him every step of the way.

"It has been a lot of coach Doerscher's help," said Whetstone. "He's been with me ever since I started. He's helped to keep me in the sport, to keep me interested.

"I owe a lot to him."

Once Whetstone made it to high school, he quickly began to make a name for himself. He qualified for the state preliminary swim his freshman year, but could not qualify for the finals.

Whetstone made it back to the state competition as a sophomore and junior, and this team he got into the consolation heat.

This year, in the 100 free, Whetstone broke the school record that he previously held. His time of 48.19 puts him right in the thick of things with a No. 15 seed.

"There's probably 20 guys between a 48 and 49," Whetstone said.

In the 200 free, Whetstone is seeded No. 12. His best time in that event is 1:45.32.

If Whetstone does not do as well as he expects in the state finals, it should not be because of the pressure. He's been through that already.

"In the sectionals, the pressure's built each year that I've made it," said Whetstone. "This year there was all that pressure to make it back down there again. I try to lighten it up a little bit, and not be quite so serious.

"I do better when I'm thinking good things and not how fast I have to go, but just go out and have fun."

Even though he tries to relax, once the competition starts, Whetstone is all business.

"Before I get up on the blocks," Whetstone said, "I run the race through my head. Then it's pretty much all concentration on the starter."

Once Whetstone is in the water, his concentration does not waver much.

"I concentrate on myself," he said. "You can look over, and if you're having a good swim, coach will be jumping up and down a little bit. Basically, you have to swim you're own race, and not worry about the others."

Whetstone knows what it takes to compete well at the state finals.

"It comes down to practice," he said. "If you go down there and don't feel ready for that, you're not going to have a chance. There are people there that are ready. You just have to go in prepared."

If there is one thing that Whetstone will miss at the finals, it is the Valley relay team that just missed qualifying to go to Indianapolis. They failed to go with Whetstone by just one second.

"It would have been great for us," he said. "We're a pretty small school and no one expects us to be down there. It would have been nice having them down there on deck with me."

Whetstone is leaning toward going to Eastern Michigan to swim there. He feels they are the best choice at this point.

Before that, he has some important business to take care of, though. On Saturday morning, Whetstone will take his fourth crack at winning the state finals. [[In-content Ad]]