Betsy austen Cole Johanson Kelly Ramis frank Sherwood
Joe loprinzi
a 10-word vocabulary, and she had to re-learn With some extra help from MAC basketball
everything. Despite this she was back in the coaches and players, Cole continued to grow
Inspirational Award Nominees
pool with her teammates within three weeks. stronger and was a clutch player by the end of
Austen had open-heart surgery in January 2007. the season.
Joe Loprinzi’s involvement and enthusiasm
She returned to the pool as soon as her doctor While on the road to recovery, Cole’s
permitted it. In October 2007 Austen attended spirit was boosted many times by tremen-
for fitness and his countless hours spent
the national meet with the MAC team. dous community support. Michael Dehaan,
helping others at MaC are an inspiration.
Austen continues to be one of the most a neighbor who played football at Beaverton
the former fitness instructor dedicated regular attendees of twice-weekly masters High School, told his coach about Cole. The
nearly 60 years to improving the lives of
practices. She still competes at a national team invited Cole to act as a co-captain for a
MaC members. the following individuals
level, earning yet another national titles in the game, with his own jersey to wear. After the
have been nominated for the award due
70-79 team event at the 2009 U.S. Masters coin flip, Cole found himself alone at midfield,
Championships in October. and as he jogged to the sideline the crowd
to their own inspirational commitment to
began to chant his name, “Cole, Cole, Cole….”
MaC: Betsy austen, Cole Johanson, Kelly
Cole Johanson
Cole smiled and pumped his fist, inspiring
Ramis and frank Sherwood.
Cole Johanson’s inspirational story began
the crowd to chant, “Cole’s my hero.” Dehaan
with pain and anguish. On a family vaca-
had an excellent game, and after each touch-
Betsy austen
tion in Utah, Cole fell ill. His parents, Doug
down, he high-fived Cole telling him, “That
and Kristen, took him to the hospital. After
one’s for you, buddy.”
It was Betsy Austen’s idea in 1957 to play
many tests, Cole was diagnosed with Burkitt’s
“The next time someone tells me that
some records on the pool deck and swim to
Lymphoma, an aggressive form of children’s
today’s high school student don’t care, I have a
the music. Inspired by the films of Esther
cancer. A stomach tumor was growing quickly,
story for them,” says Cole’s dad, Doug.
Williams, Austen encouraged and coached
and Cole spent two weeks in and out of
“This is a night I will never forget,” Cole
others, and soon the club had a synchro-
consciousness and in tremendous pain.
told his dad later. He even told his dad that
nized swimming group. First called the
Cole gained enough strength to return
having cancer wasn’t all bad if it could bring
Rhythmettes, the group became the MerMacs,
to Portland, where he spent the next three
people together and create the experience he
and finally MAC synchro masters.
months at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
felt that day.
Austen founded the regional Swimposium,
An active sports fan, Cole wanted to play
Doug and Kristen updated family and
which helped synchro to grow throughout the
whenever he had the strength, but he had
friends during Cole’s ordeal through a
region and was the precursor to competitions
lost 20 pounds from his 77-pound frame.
website. The final post was from Cole. He
in the area. Austen coached synchro at the
He struggled to shoot a basketball a few feet
said he couldn’t thank everyone enough
Leach YMCA in the 1970s and at the down-
over his head, but he was determined to be
for the love and support he received.
town YWCA in the ’80s.
the active and athletic boy he was before the
He will never forget it, and he closed by
By encouraging participation in state,
illness.
saying, “The first day of cancer was the worst
regional and zonal meets, Austen set the
Months later, after a second round of
day of my life, but the last was the best.”
stage for the national and international events
chemotherapy, Cole desperately wanted to
that MAC synchro competes in today. The
return to playing junior basketball at MAC.
kelly ramis
MAC synchro masters group claims countless
Though he had missed part of the season Kelly Ramis dances seven days a week as
national titles and three world titles since 2000.
while receiving treatment, the MAC fifth a member of MAC’s Elite dance program.
Austen is the only original member of the
grade competitive basketball coach gave Cole Recently she became an apprentice with
club’s synchro program still active today. And
a special tryout. Though Cole was still under- Bouand Dance Company, a local professional
she has persevered through physical setbacks.
weight, he was gaining strength. He sank 16 dance group. MAC Dance Supervisor Laura
In 1975 a debilitating stroke left Austen with
of 20 shots at the tryout and joined the team.
Continued on page 23
january 2010 | The Wınged M | 21
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