Straying from what’s been an effective formula isn’t part of Chase Bettner’s summer workout routine.
Because swimming is a winter sport, Center Grove’s former sprint freestyler hasn’t been flooded with text messages and emails from his future college coach to try out new practice routines.
Remaining consistent with his training helped get Bettner where he is today — a little more than a month away from moving into his dorm at Miami (Ohio) University.
Bettner, who placed seventh in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 free at the 2015 IHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals, plans to swim these same events for the RedHawks.
There is a possibility the marketing major will be inserted into the 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 butterfly and assorted relays at some point during his collegiate career.
“I haven’t done anything here that’s very much different from what I’ve done in the years past in the summer. I have done a little bit more weightlifting than normal, but that’s been kind of a change in the program that Center Grove has been running,” Bettner said.
“The Miami coaches basically told us when we went out there for freshman orientation to keep training, stay in shape with the club and be ready to go when we get there on Aug. 20.”
Miami of Ohio is coached by Pete Lindsay, who in his three decades in Oxford has been named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year six times.
The RedHawks’ men’s swimming and diving season usually begins in mid-October.
“I get an email from the assistant coach (Dan Carrington) probably every two or three weeks saying, ‘Hey, are you still doing what you need to be doing?’” Bettner said.
He is.
Bettner swims four or five times a week at the Center Grove pool. He normally opts for the morning session in order to be able to maintain social activities with family and friends.
Miami coaches have yet to send Bettner a workout plan, which could qualify as the ultimate praise for what longtime Trojans coach Jim Todd has been doing all these years.
“The way our program here is run is very intense for the high school circuit. When you get to college level it’s pretty much the norm,” Bettner said.
“The way things are run in the winter months is very hallmark of how a collegiate program is. And it works. Coach Todd’s obviously gotten great results. He knows what he’s doing.”
Bettner understands his goal of producing points for Miami as a freshman is within reach based on past and current training.
“I never really had to worry about getting onto relays or getting on the conference or sectional squad when I was here. When I came here my freshman year I was already in the top five of the team,” Bettner said.
“I’m going to have to push myself, and I’m going to have people to push me. Getting on relays is going to be tough, and I really would like to be able to swim conference my freshman year.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”The Bettner File” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
THE BETTNER FILE
Name: Chase Bettner
Age: 18
Born: Indianapolis
Family: Parents, Don and Stacy; brother, Cole, 16
Favorite TV show: “House of Cards”
Favorite food: Italian
Favorite movie: Anything “James Bond”
Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps
Favorite team: Indianapolis Colts
[sc:pullout-text-end]
