Interview with Sean Betz
(4/12/10)
Here is my interview with Sean Betz. Not only is he one of the nice
guys in the sport, but he is world champion. I mean what gets better
than that? If you don't like Sean, you don't like much. I have had the
pleasure of competing with him in the East Coast Championships, and the
guy is really that nice. Soft spoken Christian man. So here you are,
enjoy and let me know what you think.
How old are you?
33 years old
Where were you
born? Greeley, Colorado
Where do you live
now? Omaha, Nebraska
How did you end up
there? I went to college in a nearby town (Fremont) and met Rachel and
we stayed around here and got married.
What do you
drive? 2002 Ford Explorer, it has 170,000 miles. I need to get a new
vehicle soon.
Are you a fast
driver or slow ? When I managed a health club I drove real fast and got
3 speeding tickets in 1 month 1 time. Since I've become a trainer
again I drive slow.
You ever change
your own oil? I changed the oil of a plane a few times, but never my
own vehicle.
Do you like to
fly? Not really. Omaha has alot of small planes. I've gotten used to
it.
Have you gone
green? No. I don't think its bad to take care of the earth. But I do
think we aren't going to make the difference in whether or not the earth
survives.
What do you think
about global warming? Think it is mostly media smoke. Just a way for
progressive liberals to make more money.
Talk about meeting
your wife and you getting married some. I saw her in lunch line in
college. Thought she was cute. Asked her out a few weeks later. We
became good friends and it grew into a marriage later. I'm very lucky
to have met Rachel. She is beautiful, a great wife, mom, and great cook
as well. I cant believe any wife handling me traveling and competing
any better than her. All of us pros have unbelievably supportive
wives. We couldn't do what we do without them.
When you’re away
from home, do you call home a lot and talk to the wife? How often?
Maybe 1 time a day. More now since we have 2 sons. Rachel is pretty
simple. She's not a phone talker or shopper for that matter.
Talk about the
kids and ages and what that means to you to have family. I have 2 sons,
Aidan(4), and Eli (4months old). There everything to me and Rachel.
Eli is 20lbs and about 30inches tall at 4 months old. Aidan is 4 foot
tall at 4. Both are going to be throwers!
What do you do for
a living? I'm a personal trainer and a professional highland games
athlete.
How did you get
into that? I applied at a 24 hour fitness nearby. I proved I could
train people and have been there 11 years. Outlasted nearly everyone.
It's coming to an end soon as I'm going into my own business this
summer.
Tell us about your
education? I have a bachelor of science degree, Youth and Family
ministry
As a kid growing
up, what was your first job?Worked for a cropduster company. Thats
where I changed a plane's oil. I wouldn't of flown it afterward.
When you grew up
as a kid, what sports did you play? Football, Basketball, Baseball,
Field and Track
Did you throw in
high school and if so what did you throw?Threw the shot and discus.
Tell us about
throwing in college. I loved competing in college. I was at Midland
college an NAIA school. My senior year I was an all-american in the
discus getting 3rd place. I was a consistent 54-55 foot shotputter and
160+ discus thrower. Really never had a coach.
What was your
first Highland Game and when was that? Evans, Colorado June of 1999
Who was at that
game? Karl Dodge ran the games. He was at his peak. Craig Palm, Matt
Rauzi, Bert Budge to name a few. I registered as a C thrower. The next
weekend was the KC games and they moved me up to an A thrower.
What made you
decide to try and compete at a game? It looked fun. I thought that I
wouldn't totally embarrass myself.
Talk about
competing as an AM and some of the games you enjoyed. I loved the local
games in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. McPherson was my favorite
because of the small town, good field of athletes and great guy running
it(Al Myers). I liked Pleasanton and the East Coast champs in
Alexandria as well.
What is your
favorite event? It changes. Right now probably the light hammer.
What is a common
mistake you see people make in that event? They let their low point
float left and don't use their feet or hips.
Who were the first
people to influence and coach you in the sport? Ryan Vierra first and
foremost. Really learned the most from watching him and asking
questions. Al myers, and Karl Dodge as an am and Coach Mac for a short
time in 2002.
Talk about some of
the pro games you have done and your favorites. Bethlehem, Pleasanton,
Fergus, Victoria, Edinburgh2009. My favorites were Fergus 2005 Worlds
and West Virginia 2008 Worlds, because of they way we were treated. In
Scotland I love the halkirk games and Inverary games. Ireland has a
great games too.
Other than the
USA, what country do you enjoy competing in the most, and why? Its a
toss up between Canada and Scotland. Canadians treat you great and have
great venues. Scotland has all the old records by Capes, Rowe, and
Bill Anderson. It's equal in my mind.
Who do you enjoy
competing with and why? Larry Brock, Ryan Vierra, Dan McKim, Pockoski,
HB3, KO, etc. and everyone else in the class. Everyone just competes
hard every weekend and we all know each other very well. It is evident
when they had Larry anounce in KC. He knew all of our hometowns and
everything about us. I think we all know these things about each
other. Plus there is alot of depth of talent in the pro class right
now. You have to be on your game.
Let me mention
some names and you comment on them;
Vierra; He is the
highland games to alot of us. Will help you out even when your
challenging him. Taught alot of us how to act as professionals as
well. Best of all time in my book.
St.Clair; Very
intelligent. Will take time to listen to you. Very strong. Good to
see him back throwing more.
Brock; Great
thrower. Extremely fast and athletic. Always tells you the truth. Has
become one of my best friends on the circuit. Although he is frugal, he
is also very generous to his friends and puts alot of time in for
athletic directors.
Craig Smith; when
he is healthy he is one of the best. When he is not healthy he still
competes very hard and doesn't cry about it or blame it on his injury.
Well respected
KO; Me and KO are
two different people with the same career, same faith, and same love
for the sport. I know KO is always putting the time in to be better.
Obviously a very strong thrower.
Will Barron;
Great intensity. Great guy. Has a pure love for the sport. Will do
anything for you. Has thrown very far at every event at different times
in his career.
Dave Barron; a
very clutch competitor. I have seen dave go from 8th to 1st or 2nd in
an event more times than I can count. A very intelligent yet down to
earth guy. Has as much talent for the sport as anyone.
HBIII; Phenomenal
athlete. Can't believe I actually compete on the same field as him.
Even a better person. Has had an awesome career. Has his priorities
right.
Hadley; extremely
strong and explosive. Has matured alot over the last few years into a
well-rounded thrower. Loves the sport as much as anyone. Will do what
it takes to get better. Future world-champion.
Talk about some of
the throws, games and moments you are most proud of. I would say
turning the caber in West Virginia at the 2008 worlds. I was the first
person to turn it and it was the beginning of the 3rd round, and a huge
caber. By doing that I pretty much secured the win. It was my worst
event and although ryan and larry finished above me in that event, the
3rd place kept me in 1st, knowing all I had to do was clear 15feet in
the wob.
Talk about
training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?Like most I lift
more in the winter and throw more in the spring. I alternate between a
technique type day and a harder drill day.
Tell us about some
of the injuries you had as an athlete. None majore. Just some knee
and back issues every now and then. The worst injury I suffered was at
the Halkirk games in Scotland where the bar detached from the ropes on
the WOB. It came crashing down on my head and sliced me open. I bled
pretty badly and was taken to the emergency room.
What impresses you
now in the sport? How much depth of talent is in the pro class and how
much athletes of all classes love the sport and spend alot of resources
to try and get better at it.
Who makes you
laugh at games now?Watching will barron warm-up for each event.
If you were
winding up in the hammer and it slipped from your hands, who in the
sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?Probably my
own. I don't know how I would handle hurting somebody else that bad.
What training
philosophy do you follow in the gym?Good basic movements without all the
assistance movements. Olympic lifts,deadlifts, squats and variations,
standing presses and push presses. I change reps and set alot. I
really like doing multiple sets of medium to heavy weight for 1's, 2's,
and 3's.
When did you start
lifting weights and what got you started?Seriously in college. I was
always a good athlete but wasn't strong. My freshman year in college I
worked out hard and learned alot about myself. I have really loved
working out ever since. I worked out in high school but it wasn't
serious and everybody worries to much about what each other is lifting.
If I told you that
you could only do one movement in the gym, what would that be and
why?Snatch grip deadlift because of the extra leg involvement and
obviously hips, back, and good stability work. The extra few inches of
range of motion hit more things.
Put together a
week for us in season in terms of lifting days and volume and throwing
days and volume?With a games at the end of the week I like to lift
tuesday and throw wednesday. I would do like 6 sets of 2 hang snatch,
some front squat, and maybe superset it with push presses. With no
games at the end. I would do 2 days of lifting and 2 days of throwing.
Each day being different/
Talk about the
mental preparation you might do for a game, or a throw? I like to write
down 1 thing to work on in each event. I throw well when I'm
confident.
Do you have any
rituals?I always carry the implements to the trig with my left hand. I
don't know why. Usually hookgripping it.
In the off-season,
what are your goals?Have longer throws on average.
Do you prefer to
throw alone or with someone in practice? Usually alone.
When you won the
world championship, talk about how you felt inside and what this meant
to you. I couldn't believe I had done it, but I knew I was prepared
enough for it. When I first started in this sport I never thought that I
would win the world championhships. When it really hit me is when
David Webster gave me the Jon Pall Sigmarrson sash that all the
world-champions have worn. I looked at all the names and realized that I
was only the 3rd american to ever wear it in the 30 years of the
worlds. That gave me goosebumps.
Talk about some
other wins that really had meaning to you and why?Winning in Pleasanton
2007. It was my first major win over a stacked field. I've always
deeply respected that games and am very honored to have won it a couple
of times.
I find the men in
the Highland Games funny and nice, do you agree and why do you think
this is?You can just be yourself and bring your family and throw
things. It puts everyone in a good mood.
Talk some about
the hammer, what you are thinking about, what you are trying to
accomplish with the throw and your thoughts on training it. Coach us up
on this event from the Betz perspective. I really keep the low point
on my right side and catch the hammer behind me. Once I really utilized
a heel toe foot movement like the olympic hammer it has smoothed things
out. For a few years I went only two winds to work on the finish of
the movement. To be able to sit back then lift lock and block and
throwing my head back I started to get good throws. I then went back to
3 winds 3 years ago and have built it into my most consistent event
other than the stones.
What do you like
to do outside of the games? I used to hunt and fish alot growing up.
Don't have much time now. I like to go to church and be with my
family.
What other hobbies
do you have?I play the guitar occasionally.
Are you really
into the history of the games or do you just like to compete? I like
seeing the history of it in Scotland. That is what its about. Here in
the states I don't really think about it. To be honest the bagpipes
start getting annoying and you hear them in your sleep. Mainly just the
competing.
What is your
favorite food?everyone who knows me knows that its mexican food.
What supplements
do you take?multi, protein, amino acids, occasionally creatine and fish
oil
What do you drink
with a meal at home?Water
What beer do you
like? Dont drink much. Blue moon if I have one.
Do you live in a
house, apartment or ?house for 6 years now
Do you like to
garden? I don't know, never really tried it.
Do you mow your
own grass and what day do you do this in season when traveling? Rachel
likes to do it. I will do it if I have time during the day. She is
home with the boys and Aidan loves watching the grass being mowed.
Are you a cat or
dog person?dog
Are you to the
political right or left?right
Are you into
Astrology? What sign are you?Cancer but I don't get into Astrology
Are you a
religious man, and if so, what do you practice?I'm a Christian. I
believe a man named Jesus lived and died and rose again so that we all
could be saved. But its our choice to accept it and let it change your
life.
Talk about some of
the music you listen to at different times. favorite is Van Halen. I
like most rock music. Anything that is motivational. I don't get into
the hate type stuff. If it sounds like a demonic dog barking it doesn't
motivate me.
Where do you like
to go out to eat?Lina's cafe. A new mexican place in town. 2 burritos
for 6 dollars.
What do you like
to watch on TV?The Ultimate Fighter is my favorite. Pawn stars on the
history channel. I like watching any sports events.
Do you watch more
O’reilly or Oberman?definitely O'reilly. can't stand oberman. way to
cynical and sarcastic. Not a way to live your life.
Are you a western
movie or sci fi person? Tell a favorite. I like the clint eastwood
stuff. Pale rider and hang-em high is good
What are the goals
for this year? Win the worlds again. Most definitely win the Celtic
classic. I've finished 2nd 3 times and 3rd 2 times there. Maybe throw
150 in the light hammer and finally get 17 standing wob. I've hit 16
feet probably 100 times and 16'6" 15 times, but never 17.
Thank you brother.
|