BAMFest…just the mere mention of the event usually gives members of the Masters swimming community goosebumps. It is unique as it is fun and a great kickoff to the fall swim meet schedule. The fact that Bainbridge was voted only the second most livable city in the U.S. (sources: CNN Money & Money Magazine) and the Island’s highpoint is named Toe Jam Hill (seriously, I’m not kidding; 425 feet above sea level) are really not reasons to avoid the venue. After all, only Ground Hog Day is a better indicator than the Bainbridge Chilly Billy Bike ride (every February), that spring is a’comin’. And up until just a few years ago it would not have been that unusual to run into present Governor Jay Inslee (a local resident) and/or Russell Johnson (better known as the Professor on Gilligan’s Island and also a local resident) at one of the Island’s many shops. Anyway, all that is neither here nor there so before I get further off topic and start rambling on about where the name “Bainbridge” came from, I’ll get to the meet’s recap.
After a few tense early moments when it appeared they might not have enough timers and then a little later a minor glitch with the timing system, the meet started; albeit 7 minutes late.
On hand to lead us out into battle were nine (I counted Brent & Holly’s kids Joshua and Nathan to make it sound like we had more there so actually just seven; but they coulda swam! They both were chomping at the bit to the point that Holly and Brent stayed after just to let the kids recreate; well done mom and dad!)
With the first event up, the medley relay, Tom Walker, Scott Neuhaus, Dan Underbrink & Jason Koppelberger, swimming back, breast, fly & free in that order registered a decent time and a first in their age division.
Then things got serious.
Tammy and Jason Koppelberger as well as Dan Underbrink hit the water for the first individual event, the 200 Freestyle. Tammy, recovering from a cold and in fact still battling the last stages of it, nevertheless ground out a very good time of 2:16.42 though it was 4 seconds off her seed time. Hubby Jason likewise was a bit off his best but close enough to register a second place. TWIM attendees were on their feet for Jason’s swim as he was in the same heat as Danny U., and they were close enough to see each other (lanes 2 & 4). It went down to the wire with Jason narrowly prevailing by a gnat’s eyelash (two-tenths of a second!). Dan’s time earned him a hard fought third place. Tammy’s time narrowly missed getting into the PNA All-time top 12 for her age group but her seed time has her securely in 6th there.
Brent Barnes bore the colors for the next event, the 50 Back, and crushed his best time by over three seconds while registering a third place.
The 200 IM had Dan back in the water without a whole lotta rest which was made worse by a cold that he was battling; nevertheless, he put up a fine time while securing a second place. Scott Neuhaus happened to be in the same heat and took advantage of Dan’s health quandary to eke out a rare victory over his good pal. Scott, having just aged up to the 65-69 bracket, broke through to 9th place on the PNA All-time top 12 list for the event. The Board Chair, Thomas Walker, scored a fine first place in this event also.
Next on the docket was the 50 freestyle. TWIM sent 3 into the foray in this one with the usual husband-wife rivalry of the Koppelbergers recurring as well as Brent giving it a go also. All three swimmers were slightly off their seed time but were close. Tammy got 1st in her division while the guys each secured a fifth place. Possibly more important, Tammy beat Jason narrowly once again. Tammy seems to dominate on the surface of the water while Jason, after twelve years of working as a deep sea diver in the Gulf of Mexico, is the unchallenged top dog not only in his family but for the entire team when going anywhere from 3 to 300 feet under; you can be sure!
The 100 Butterfly was next with Holly up against the fastest in the last heat. She was fourth of six in the heat, edging 5th place by .26 seconds. She got first in her division and absolutely spanked her seed time by over three seconds. If you want to see text book butterfly, just watch her next time. By the way, she is less than a second from cracking the All-time top 12 for this event in her division.
In the 50 breast Scott dropped 2 seconds while getting second place and Tom did likewise in his division.
Four TWIMmers competed in the 100 free with Brent grabbing second while Jason finished 4th and Scott got first. Tammy represented the fairer sex and though she grabbed first she was not very happy with her time. Her goal is to break a minute and though close she knows it will take a little more training and she’ll be there. That would also get her on the board for the All-time top 12; a little extra motivation.
Dan swam the 500, as usual, and secured a well-deserved 1st while trying to keep a little left in the tank for the 100 Breast.
In the 100 IM Tom and Scott got 3rd and 2nd respectively and in the 200 Free Relay the foursome of Dan, Scott, Jason and Brent got 2nd place whether in the 18-24 age group or the 45-49 age group. In the controversy of the meet, the relay was assigned to a much lower division than it should have been but Coach Tammy, in her wisdom, reasoned that it wouldn’t matter where they competed, they would still get 2nd, and so she declined to raise a ruckus.
Ironman Dan swam to a second in the 100 back while Holly just missed, by a mere four-tenths of a second, making the Top 12 All-time list in the 50 Fly, while swimming to another 1st.
In the final event there were again 4 entrants as Dan and Brent, with a very nice 1:22.83 in the 100 breast, both got second while our fearless leader and your correspondent in the trenches on the front line, that’s Tom and Scott, got firsts.
Nearly lastly, I would like to toss a heartfelt kudos, which is completely inadequate for what the situation calls for, to a very inspirational gentleman that swam among us this last weekend. I believe his name was Tim Bomke, but I can’t be sure as I was recalling him from two heats in front of me and his lane. I subsequently talked to him an hour or so later and learned that he lost his leg in combat, serving our country. I thanked this brave, amazing individual for all of us in the TWIM family for his service and sacrifice.
Lastly, a special thanks to Bainbridge Aquatic Center and Coach April Cheadle. Gratitude goes especially to Head Referee Mike Murphy, Clerk of the Course Samantha Everett and all the other generous officials that donated their time to indulge us. PNA Masters Swimming and Vice President Linda Chapman for being catalysts in the proceedings certainly cannot be overlooked and the IT people for all their work must take a bow, also. Oh, and what about Gracie Moffat for her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner; memorable! Well done everyone!
One thought on “Fun Times at BAMFest 2019”
Scott thank you for writing this amazing article. Super fun time was had by all. I hope to see more of TWIM swimmers at the Snohomish meet.