Banquet of
Champions
Join the celebration with the nominees at the Banquet of ChampionsThursday, Jan. 14.
mel FoX
maC Boys swim relay team
MAC’s 13-14 boys 400-meter individual medley relay team set
Amateur Athlete of the Year Nominees
a state record at the Oregon short course swim meet in February
2009. Carson Brindle, Max Bley Male, Luke Marshall and Will
Mel fox, former athletic director and manager, was known by
Tyrrell each swam personal best times by a significant margin to
members for his dedication to sports. In honor of fox, the
accomplish this feat. MAC swim coach Gary Leach says it’s not
following individuals and team have been nominated for the
common for each member of a relay team to record personal best
award: fritz Camp, MaC Boys Swim Relay team, Jon Polonsky,
times in a single relay. “That was pretty phenomenal,” he says.
elli Wiita, Dougal Williams and Mary Wuilloud.
By the time the state long course meet came around in July,
Tyrrell had turned 15, leaving the backstroke leg to be filled. Bley
Fritz Camp
Male, who swam the breaststroke for the short course record-
The highlight of Fritz Camp’s recent success on the racquetball
setting team, took on that challenge, and Andrew Pence joined
court is his performance at the Summer National Senior Games
the relay at breaststroke. At the long course meet, Pence shaved a
last August in Palo Alto, Calif. Camp placed fifth out of the 32
remarkable four seconds off his personal best time, and Bley Male
competitors in the men’s 70-plus singles bracket, and he and his
turned in a personal best time in the backstroke. Their hard work
partner placed second in men’s 60-plus doubles. His year also
in training really paid off, and their times at the meet inspired
included first-place finishes in both singles and doubles at the
personal bests by Marshall and Brindle too. In fact, the relay times
Washington State Senior Games and Olympic Peninsula Senior
recorded by Marshall and Brindle would have set Oregon records
Games.
in their respective individual events.
“Fritz embodies not only the qualities of athletic excel-
Another state meet and four more personal best times by MAC’s
lence, sportsmanship and leadership, but is also an inspirational
13-14 boys 400-meter individual medley relay team. When USA
person both on and off the racquetball courts,” says Racquetball
Swimming came out with the national rankings after the end of
Committee Chair Mark van der Veer.
the swimming season at the end of August, the MAC short course
Breaking down his reasons for playing, Camp says it’s a combina-
relay team was ranked No. 7 and the long course relay team was
tion of fascination with the game, fitness, fellowship and fun. Of
ranked No. 9.
course to be successful, that fun is accompanied by a lot of effort.
Camp set a goal of a strong performance at nationals, and many
Jon polonsky
months prior to the tournament he began fine-tuning his game and For six of the past seven years, Jon Polonsky has finished first
fitness. His focus was apparent during the club’s winter intramurals in the club’s Ironman Decathlon, which squeezes all 10 decathlon
season, where Camp put together a perfect record, defeating oppo- events into two rigorous days. He would be a perfect seven for
nents that typically had the upper hand against him. He says he’d seven if not for a pulled hamstring during the competition a few
be nowhere if not for Fritz’s posse, a group of MAC racquetballers years ago. Of course he hobbled through the remaining events
whom he called upon to help him train. By selecting a variety of to finish second that year, says Decathlon Committee Chair Karl
opponents he was able to improve many aspects of his game. Lucke, because that’s who he is – a purpose-driven, determined
“They were on board with me and my racquetball goals,” Camp athlete. “His never-give-up attitude and personal drive to succeed
says of racquetball pals like Karl Goebel, Bruce Oldenburg and are truly inspirational,” Lucke says.
Don Reid, to mention just a few. “I’m thankful they put up with These traits are apparent in Polonsky’s latest physical challenge:
me,” he says. cycling. In 2006 he began cycling with a friend who rode competi-
Of course he competes to win, but he says he’s learned that tively in the past. Polonsky joined his friend at Oregon Bike Racing
competition has more to offer than just victory. Ultimately it’s a Association’s racing series at Portland International Raceway. New
chance to grow, as a player and a person. “I’m living proof you can to competitive cycling, Polonsky started in the novice category.
teach an old dog new tricks,” Camp says. “I may not be top dog, His strength enabled him to be competitive, but he found he had
but I do enjoy the chase.” Being a winner on the racquetball court a lot to learn tactically about the sport. He earned enough points
is second to being a winner in the game of life, he says.
Continued on page 22
20 | The Wınged M | january 2010
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