Those moments Chase Bettner is able to stand on an awards podium are very much valued by the Center Grove swimmer.
Same holds true for any ribbons, medals and school records he’s worked to achieve.
Despite his status as one of this area’s top sprint freestylers, what he’s managed to accomplish both in the classroom and with extracurricular activities away from swimming are even more impressive.
Ranked 14th in Center Grove’s senior class of 583 students with a 4.4 grade-point average, Bettner is known to bring his “A” game to pretty much everything in or out of the pool.
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“Grades are pretty important to me. My parents (Dan and Stacy) have always hit that pretty hard,” Bettner said. “But I’ve kind of learned to roll with the punches a little bit.”
Translation: Bettner might agonize over that rare “B” for a week or two as opposed to, say, a month or two.
Having orally committed Nov. 12 to attend Miami University (Ohio), Bettner plans to swim for the RedHawks and coach Pete Lindsay beginning the 2015-16 school year.
Michigan State and Ball State also have shown interest in Bettner.
“(Oxford, Ohio) is really a cool town, and I like the feel of the campus. It has that Ivy League
feel, and it’s close to my hometown,” Bettner said. “I like the size of the school because you can have the relationships with your professors that you wouldn’t have at a bigger school.”
Bettner’s workload typically includes the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, the backstroke leg of Center Grove’s medley relay and either lead-off or anchor of the
400 freestyle relay. He’s also qualified to represent the Trojans
in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle.
He never has been concerned about spreading himself too thin.
“Chase has probably been the busiest student-athlete I’ve ever been around,” said Center Grove swim coach Jim Todd, who has
led the boys program since the 1984-85 season.
“He’s very involved with student government. He’s very involved in show choir. Chase swims on top of all that, and he’s a straight-A student. He’s good in everything he does.”
No stranger to the IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals at the IUPUI Natatorium, Bettner has been there the past three seasons and represented his school in a total of 10 events — two as a freshman and four apiece as a sophomore and junior.
Last winter he won the 100 freestyle at the Franklin Sectional in a time of 46.36 seconds; Bettner later placed eighth at state in 47.10 after clocking a 46.64 in prelims.
“The 100 is kind of my forte. I also swim the 50, but if you have a bad start there’s not enough time to make up for it,” Bettner said. “This season I would be happy with a top-four finish (at the state meet) in both events.”
Recognized to be stronger during the second half of races than at the outset, Bettner hopes the same applies to his senior season.
Working with Todd, Bettner likes his chances.
“He is a very intense man, but he knows what he’s doing. You can ask about the angle of your elbow while you swim and coach Todd will tell you how to correct it and anything technical like that,” Bettner said.
“It’s the tiny details. I think that’s what makes him such a good coach.”
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Name: Chase Bettner
Age: 18
Born: Indianapolis
Family: Parents, Dan and Stacy; brother, Cole, 15
Favorite TV show: “The Walking Dead”
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Any James Bond movie
Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps
Favorite team: Indianapolis Colts
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