The Betsey

by Scott Neuhaus

World Drowning Prevention Day coincides with my birthday every year, in late July. I only mention this because it just isn’t easy to swim. With most animals there is an innate, conserved “behavior” they exhibit when placed in the water. It’s called instinct. It ensures survival. But that undersells some of their abilities.

There’s a dog, named Umbra, that swims 4 miles in 73 minutes!

That canine is TWIM material.

Orcas swim thousands of miles for sardines. Boy, don’t let them know about Costco.

And remember the rabbit that executed a swimming attack on President Carter’s boat in April of ’79!? Obviously it was a Republican lagomorph.

But really, the ability is there across the animal spectrum. Even camels can swim!

Humans; they don’t have that instinct. Drowning is still the 3rd leading cause of accidental death on our planet. It’s like Mrs. Evolution said (with an Italian accent), “yur so smart, you figga it out!”.

Over a quarter of a million deaths annually, worldwide, are caused by drowning! Fact is, 55% of all humans would not be able to survive if placed in deep water.

In light of these startling facts and figures, it’s all the more amazing what we, as aquatic athletes, are able to accomplish. And it’s very unique, in a way. I mean, if you drop many people in our workout milieu, they don’t come out alive. Drop me on a basketball court and tho’ it may not be a pretty thing to watch, at least I survive. Place one of us on the side of a sheer cliff and rescue would be necessary eventually but we don’t succumb outright. I guess there are exceptions; an MMA cage and a bullring come to mind. Secondary action is required, tho’.

Swimming IS very unique.

So among our numbers we have individuals that learned how to swim, usually early in their lives, overcame the obstacles inherent in placing oneself in a deadly situation, and then excelled at propelling themselves through it.

The hard work and dedication required to be “fast” is substantial. And it is very definitely a sport where the hard workers separate themselves from the less inclined quickly.

The Betsey Award can be said to be a celebration of that drive to excel; of being the fastest.

But not exclusively.

There’s more to it than that.

Much more.

The finalists for this year’s Betsey make that very evident. Accomplishments after the gun goes off are still vital. To be considered “Betsey material”, tho’, you better pack a little more in your resume’.

For example, last year’s co-recipients, dynamic duo Holly & Brent; they did a huge amount between the walls. But what cemented their victory last year was that extra outside-the-pool energy. That’s what swayed the judges and pushed them over the top; Holly’s Board work and especially Brent’s pool advocacy efforts.

Like Betsey Kassen herself, when she was competing (and the very reason for the eponymous award), she excelled between the walls AND she was an incredible teammate. She not only helped herself through her drive and work ethic but she also made everyone else around her not only a better swimmer but a better person.

Just to be considered for this prestigious award is a feather in one’s cap.

In reverse alphabetical order (finally, Dan, you get to go first!), the roll call of those considered and the highlights of their 2022 résumé:

Dan Underbrink

Our esteemed TWIM President, Dan also serves on the PNA Board of directors. His moniker “Ironman” is not a trifle that was lightly bestowed. He is the epitome of the word.

He always swims the toughest events and the maximum allowable under the rules (at least I think he limits himself; sometimes I wonder . . he’s out there an awful lot). He never turns down a relay and thereby is a veritable “gold mine” of points for the team every meet.

Among his higher competitive accomplishments this year, he was 4th at Senior Nationals in the 200 Breast and 4th in the 400 IM. He placed top 10 in the 100 Back, 200 Back and the 100 Breast also.

His 400 IM is ranked 9th All Time in the PNA and his 1650 time is 10th. And! He is the 800m Breast world champ in the 65-69 age group. He proved that swimming in a meet in the land down under.

In addition to his aforementioned Senior National attendance, he swam Spring Nationals in San Antonio, too. He swims open water events when possible and is one of three TWIM members that swam internationally. His total number of meets competed in, for the year, is nearly unrivaled. He was a fixture at the clinics and also contributed articles for the blog.

Mercy!

Dave Scott

Dave is a PSM board member and a recent addition to our own board. He is a level 1 USMS coach, a natural leader and a tireless recruiter. He swam the Spring Nationals in San Antonio placing 6th in the 200 Breast, 11th in the 100 Breast and 14th in the 50 Breast. He also competed in the 50, 100 and 200 Frees. He swam relays as well. He swam nearly every meet the state offered as well as going out of state for the SCM meet in Hood River, Ore. as well as NW SC Zones in Mollala, Ore. His 200 Breast time ranks him 4th All Time for the PNA and his 100 Breast ranks him 9th. His National 8th place ranking for his 200 Breast SCM time is noteworthy as well as his number 14 rank in the 100 Breast. He did all this while still working. My sources tell me that he recently retired from the Navy as an Engineering Manager (as of 12/31).

What, pray tell, will he do with that extra time when he already does it all!?

I’m told he has an unrequited love of backstroke. Might we see you perfecting your skills there and swimming more IM? Something tells me great things are coming out of Bremerton, where he trains. I can’t wait to see. Still, it was a heck of a season with some amazing numbers you put up this year.

Kathy Pelham

You’ve heard of the movie “The Taking of Pelham 123”; the 2009 action-thriller by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington. Well, I have a feeling you’re going to see a thriller in the up-coming ’22-23 season called, just, “The Taking”, by Kathy Pelham. She is aging up and the 50+ ladies are starting to look over their shoulders already. She compiled a pretty nifty season while still 49 years young, though. This super-mom not only serves on our board but also worked both clinics, swam Fat Salmon, the Bellevue Mile, PNA Champs, the Cannonball classic as well as the Snohomish meet. She also attended TWIMFest and played instrumental roles in the clinics (it was worth repeating).

Now THAT was a darn nice season!

Holly Lickwala

Talk about memorable seasons; this gal had one for all the right reasons and even one for the wrong reason. Luckily the right reasons dominated the ledger.

She aged up to the 45-49 group and reminded her competitors whenever they even thought about forgetting, who had the shiniest boots.

One of her goals was to try and set a new PNA record in something/ anything. She did that and did it twice; in the SCM 100 Fly. Her final time of 1:15.37 might stand for a while.

She was 1st in the Bellevue Mile and dominated the PNA Champs. I suppose we should add that she had her way with the competition in the Cannonball LC Meet, BAMfest, SAM, and the Bend All-Around Meet as well as the Oregon Spring ahead meet. She really made her presence felt at the Hood River SCM meet, too, AND at the NW Zone SC Yards meet in Mollala, Ore as well as the SW Zones @ Mission Viejo (LCM).

She contributed several times to the blog, covering meets and trying to make us all appreciate the officials a little more (and it worked as assaults on them have gone way down 😉 ). She is a mother of two boys and serves on the board, was in the middle of all the activities surrounding the clinics and . . . there was something else. Now what was it? Oh, yes, with her spare time she completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy!!

Spare time?!

Doctorate!?

Are you kidding me!?

The topic of her thesis was something about helping people that are dizzy; which is just about anyone who read her list of accomplishments for the year!

The one negative was a health scare but she met it head on, as she does everything in her life, and things are looking positive.

Carl Haynie

It’s one thing when one can’t wait until the age-up process makes things easier to score. It’s a whole ‘nother ballgame when everyone in your age group circles the day on their calendars when YOU age up. That’s what this guys’ competitors do regarding him.

And I understand.

His 1:02.32 backstroke time was 5th nationally for the ’21-22 season but he just went 1:01.77 @SAM to kick off the ’22-23 SC season. He’s 1st nationally in that event so far. Same with the 200 back; 2:16.86!!?.

Cripe sakes, act your age!!

He swept those two events at Senior Nationals and, for good measure, won the 100 and 200 IMs. He is the TWIM treasurer and helped with the two clinics, swam Fat Salmon, and attended TWIMFest. He hit BAM, Hood River and Spring Nationals.

He is top five in the All-Time top 12 PNA swims for the 50, 100, and 200 backs as well as the 100 & 200 IMs. He is an indispensable member of the TWIM board and one of the founding fathers.

That is a season most people would sell their souls for. I know ‘cuz I’ve tried; someone always beats me to it.

Steve Fogg

There are athletes in many sports that, as they age, they look like they can’t jump over a small town’s phonebook. This guy ain’t one of ‘em.

He’s approaching 900 months on this planet and he’s still going through 3000 yard workouts like they were butter. He swam, in the span of 2 months, the 200 fly in all three courses (LCM, SCM, and SCY) and on two different continents! He was there for the first of TWIM’s two ’22 clinics but not the second. That’s because he was attending the USMS officiating clinic in Portland at the time. He’s a TWIM at-large board member, he swam SC Spring Nationals in San Antonio as well as Summer LC Nationals in Virginia, kicking ass in both (all twelve events he placed top 10!!). He broke up the party at three Oregon meets, the Spring Ahead meet, as well as SC Zones and the Hood River SCM meet. He was in the mix for High Point honors at all three of those meets as he registered nothing but top three in all his events. He was at PNA Champs, the Cannonball Classic as well as the Washington State Senior Games. If not for the constant presence of super freaks of nature Dan Kirkland and former Olympian Rick Colella, he would never get second. That’s why he ended up going to Timbuktu to compete. Well, actually it was 1600 miles north of Timbuktu in Tunis, Tunisia, where he made the locals and regional swimmers there think he was literally Poseidon reincarnated. I think he lapped several people in the 100 back! Maybe it was the 200; the math doesn’t seem right there for the 100; especially ‘cuz it was LCM.

Before the announcement of the winner, a few sidelights:

Regarding Steve, I recently received a communique from another of my “sources” with some amazing information. It seems a few years ago he was selected as one of eight “super athletes”, 70+, to participate in a scientific study. In it researchers took muscle stem cells and grew them in culture in order to determine what they call “Froude Propulsion Efficiency” parameters for each athlete. His numbers were off the charts! But more interestingly, his stem cells grew into small dolphins!

What?

Too far!?

It’s not like I said the dolphins grew and were released into the wild. That would be preposterous. I just left out one small word . . . “like”. They were “dolphin-like”!

Colleen Wahlstrom’s implausibility meter went haywire; ever since that Airport upgrade thing I can’t get anything past her.

Fine! He wasn’t part of a study; but he is amazing!

Steve, Kathy, Brent Barnes and Holly became accredited officials for the USMS. I wanna see them doing that!! What!? Overseeing five heats and then off to the nearest phone booth to change for their heats!? Yeah, good luck trying to find a phone booth!

And let’s not forget, THE one and only. The one the word “indomitable” was coined for, Betsey Kassen. She was always something but her ’17-18 season was one for the ages. Ranked top 20 in 11 events, top 15 in 9 events and top 10 in 6 events nationally with a second in the 400 IM!

For a season, it’s right up there with Koufax for the Dodgers in ’65. Maybe Ted Williams in ’41. Steffi Graf in ’88.

In the above mentioned seasons of dominance nothing is taken away from the others that vied with the alpha. It was simply an overshadowing; an eclipse. Or, more specifically, a total eclipse of the competition. It was as if a total eclipse happened but not for 3 or so minutes but for an entire season!

Wouldn’t that be something!?

Actually, that wouldn’t be a good thing. I’m pretty sure it’d be the end of humanity.

So let’s not think along those lines.

Still, adjectives fail me to describe it adequately.

It was more than inspirational.

Reminds me of the movie “Jerry McGuire”.; “What inspires you?” “Just shut up and play the game; but play it with your heart.”

Swim with your heart.

Train because your passion for it allows it to “complete you”. We are not swimming because we have to.

It is our passion.

One of my favorite inspirational speeches in one of my favorite movies, “Miracle”, regarding the USA ’80 Winter Olympic Men’s Hockey Gold Medal run, is apropos here. Curt Russel’s character, hard-ass coach Herb Brooks, alludes to what makes great performances/accomplishments:

“Great moments are born from great opportunity and that’s what you have here tonight, boys.

That’s what you’ve EARNED here tonight.

One game.

If we played them (the Soviets) 10 times, they might win nine. But not this game.

Not tonight.

Tonight we stay with them and we shut them down; because we can! Tonight WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. You were meant to be here tonight. Now go out there and TAKE it!”

Our Betsey finalists all have that very attitude in common; they are takers. But as should be evident, they are just takers when it comes to competition. They are fierce takers, fierce competitors. And that is why they are so successful.

But that gritty, aggressive style between the walls, after the gun goes off, contrasts sharply with how they are when not competing. Then they are just as ferocious; in their giving.

When interviewing Holly beforehand, despite the fact that she won last year and was very much in the running this year, she would not hear of being considered for this award; to repeat.

She wanted to “share the love” as she put it.

That is generosity of spirit!

And David Scott; there is not a more giving person on this team. He is there for all around him whether family, friends, teammates or I suspect even strangers in need. That is a ferociousness of generosity.

And do I need to even mention Fearless Dan Underbrink. The word “indefatigable” gets tired trying to keep up with him in his unselfishness with his time; his spirit.

The same descriptives could be used to the saturation point with Kathy Pelham and Carl Haynie as well. For all of these athletes, their yin and yang are spectacularly balanced.

That is why our winner this year is so special. He not only fits the mold for what it takes once the bugle calls; but he also leads just as fiercely long before first call and well after the the lights go out and the doors are closed.

He is first in the pool and last out for training, he is dominant with a zeal that is truly Betsey-esque in competition, and he makes all those around him better swimmers and better people.

Since joining our ranks midway through the ’21 season he has done nothing but shine. He is the epitome of the consummate teammate and this season he “completed us” as well as himself via his contributions both in the pool and out.

He registered PNA All-Time Top Twelve times in 10 events and as you read this he is top FIVE in no less than 6 of those twelve!! His national rankings, whether SCY, SCM or LCM pepper the Top 15 and Top 10 nationally. And on top of all this, he is a prodigious teammate.

So for a season that rivals Koufax in ’63, Steffi Graf in ’88, Lionel Messi in ’14-15, Wilt Chamberlain in ’61-62 and possibly even Betsey herself in ’17-18, the winner of the 2023 Betsey Kassen Award, for an otherworldly 2022 is none other than Steve Fogg!

Congratulations to the “Velvet Fogg”!

And one last word, from Betsey herself. Competitive swimming makes you tough. The harder you work on it, the more steeled you become. Indulging oneself is fine and in fact necessary.

You have to smell the roses.

But just remember, life saves its toughest challenges up ahead, not in the rear view mirror.

“And it ain’t for sissies”.

Drink heartily from the golden cup but . . . just keep swimming!

Hail TWIM!