Story about Rev Betowski, S.J, moderator to track program, 1951-68

My name is Don Betowski (Georgetown college class of 1966), aka Nevada Hoya on the popular Hoya Talk board. I try to keep the basketball crazy alumni and fans informed of the exploits of the Hoya track and field team (http://guhoyas.cstv.com/genrel/112108aan.html).

I am not a track alumnus; the closest I came to being on the track and field team was the day Coach Steve Benedek was watching me try to go over the high jump bar. He had seen me playing basketball, and in those days I estimate I had a three foot vertical leap. Unfortunately, I could not translate that vertical leap into very successful high jump form to get over the bar. I later took up distance running in graduate school, so I have come to greatly appreciate the efforts of the Hoya middle and distance runners.

But this essay is not about me, but rather about my late uncle, Rev. E. Paul Betowski, S.J. My uncle was a 1936 graduate of Georgetown, and when he became a Jesuit, he was assigned to his alma mater, where he stayed from 1951 to 1968. Because he was a trackman, at least in high school (Waverly, NY), and had run the half mile in about 2:04 to 2:06 back in the early ‘30s, he was made the moderator of the track team. My uncle was probably the most spirited Jesuit at the university. He was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to his beloved Hoyas. I later met another Jesuit, who was in the seminary with my uncle, and on learning that I was his nephew, his face lighted up at his recollection of my uncle. Apparently, at the seminary silence was maintained at the community breakfast table. I guess that rule was followed except for my uncle, who would come down to breakfast with the sports section in hand, and he would read out the results for the previous day’s sports events for the rest of the community.

At Georgetown my uncle was occasionally called into the office of the president, Father Bunn at the time, to talk about his actions at the previous evening’s basketball game. He would regularly visit the referees in their locker rooms in McDonough gym to question the calls that they had missed during the game. At games he would cheer as loudly as any enthusiastic undergrad.

My father and I would meet my uncle (my dad’s brother) at Madison Square Garden each year on the occasion of the Millrose Games. It was a thrill for me, as a high school student, to go into the Garden and see all those famous track and field stars. And Georgetown would send a contingent, usually to run in the two-mile relay. One such relay was, I believe, in 1962, and Georgetown had the great Jack Reilly on the team that year. Among the teams in the two-mile relay that year were Holy Cross and Manhattan, which were highly ranked in the relay that year. Georgetown got off to a slow start, and when Jack received the baton, Georgetown was in third position, about 50 yards behind Manhattan and 40 yards behind Holy Cross. During the course of the race, Holy Cross passed Manhattan, but back on the track Jack was eating up the boards on his leg. In the last 50 yards, it was Holy Cross just in front of Manhattan with Jack rolling. During the final yards Jack went by the Manhattan anchor and was just outleaned by the Holy Cross runner. It was one of the most amazing anchors that I have ever seen.

Another episode at the Millrose games came again in 1962. It was on occasion of the first 16 foot pole vault. John Uelses came up with the historic vault. After the meet we saw some pole vaulters walking back to their hotels. They were easy to spot as they carried their poles the two or so blocks to their hotels. My uncle pointed to one of the vaulters, and he told us that that was John Uelses. My father and I were not so sure, but we left it to my uncle, and he went up to the vaulter and told him what a great meet he had, etc. The athlete said he didn’t have such a good meet, but my uncle convinced him otherwise and thought he was showing some false humility. The he had him autograph his program. When my uncle got back to us, he opened up his program, and low and behold, there on the cover was the autograph of John Rose. Apparently, it was not false humility, and my father and I kidded my uncle the rest of the evening.

After my uncle’s tenure at Georgetown, he followed his good friend, Father Joseph Sellinger to Loyola of Baltimore. But in the early ‘70s he left academia and became a chaplain at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. He enjoyed the desert climate and beauties of New Mexico, but never forgot that he was a Hoya. His license plate in New Mexico was HOYA. He died there, still working as the full time chaplain at the age of 86 in 2002.

Hoyas Section at the Millrose Games

The Hoyas will be competing at the 102nd Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden on January 30th.

Plans are for the team to compete in the 4x800 relay against some of the country’s top programs. A new “Chairman of the Boards” might be crowned, as Bernard Lagat, the reigning World Champion at both the 1500 & 5000 meters will return to defend his Wanamaker Mile title. Lagat already has six Wanamaker victories. If he wins on January 30th, he will tie Eamonn Coghlan’s record of seven Wanamaker victories. We look forward to a large Georgetown turnout including alumni, parents, friends and fans. If you use promo code GEORGETOWN and choose either section 107&207, you’ll not only get discount on your tickets…you’ll be surrounded by other Georgetown fans all in the same area.

Special discounted tickets are available by using promotional code GEORGETOWN when contacting Ticketmaster (call (212)307-7171,
www.ticketmaster.com); For discounted Group tickets please contact Paul Moser moser@globalathletics.com. Take a moment to visit the event website, www.millrose-games.com, for more information, photos and videos.

Go Hoyas!

Catching up with. .. Matt DeBole

Matt DeBole finished off a great career as a Hoya this past summer. Matt competed at the Olympic Trials in the 1500 meters after qualifying for the event with a 3:40.73 performance at Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational in April. At the Olympic Trials Matt ran 3:43.32 to place 9th in his preliminary heat and captured an at-large spot to advance to the semi-final where he ran 3:45.20 for 10th place.

SSC: You competed in the 1500 at the Olympic Trials this summer, what was the experience like?

MD: I'd say the experience was 100% positive. This year, it was a goal for me to qualify and compete well at the Trials, and I certainly accomplished both goals. The experience gives me confidence in Coach Henner's and my own ability to set high goals and achieve them.

SSC: Can you describe the atmosphere both while racing and while you were spectating?

MD: It was certainly the most electric atmosphere in which I have competed. The crowd was into every event and packed the stands. I was grateful to be there as an athlete but also as a spectator to see some spectacular events.

SSC: What is the biggest thing you learned from racing at the Olympic Trials?

MD: I learned that I belong at the elite level of competition- that I can mix it up with the nation's best.

SSC: Is it intimidating racing against mostly professional runners when you’re still a collegiate athlete?

MD: No, I've raced against most of the "professionals" while we were both in college so that experience isn't new. I like to frame racing against the professionals more as an opportunity for a collegiate runner to knock a chip off their shoulder.

SSC: Did you ever feel as though you were at a disadvantage compared to most of the other guys in the race because they are professionals and you were a collegiate athlete?

MD: I thought the collegiate runners were actually at an advantage in terms of being able to handle the rounds of qualifying. In college, you are used to running multiple times on multiple days which is something many of the professionals do not get to practice. Knowing my ability to perform at my best multiple times in a weekend gave me more confidence.

SSC: Is there any special workout you like to do before a big race to know that you’re ready to go?

MD: There really isn't a staple workout. Mentally challenging workouts, the ones that make you dig really deep, signal to me that I'm ready to go. Also, we'll usually put together a time trial of sorts 10 days prior which is a good indicator of whether I'm ready to go or not.

SSC: You had Andrew Bumbalough to train with all the way through the trials, how much and what kind of a difference does it make for you to have somebody like that to train with everyday?
MD: I have to say that it's a double-edged sword. It's awesome having a good friend like Andrew there doing the same workouts and runs. We push each other in practice and are able to hangout when we're done. However, it's also difficult to remind yourself that you're one of the best in the country when your teammate is right there doing the same thing with the same goals. Sometimes it's also difficult to turn the competitive switch on and off when talking running with him. I want him to do well and accomplish his goals, yet one of my goals is to also beat him.

SSC: You’re now finished with your collegiate eligibility, so what are your plans now?

MD: My number one priority is to train hard this fall and race fast this summer. Fortunately, I'm currently in a great position to do so. I am volunteer assistant coaching with the Georgetown Cross Country team and have a part-time job in the Physical Therapy Dept. in the Georgetown Hospital. I hope to be back in Eugene, OR at the Olympic Trials in 2012 competing for a spot on the Olympic team.