ANNOUONCEMENTS


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Betterman has an eye on Rio

From Foster's Daily Democrat
PictureClick image to enlarge
Deanna Rix Betterman is pictured with her husband, Joe, and their children, Mason and Madison. (Courtesy photo)

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine ― These are good times indeed for Deanna (Rix) Betterman. She just welcomed her second child into the world and her sport, wrestling, which was surprisingly dropped from the list of core Olympic sports in early 2013, was restored by the International Olympic Committee later that year.

“I'm thinking I might make one more run at it,” said Betterman about the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in a phone interview from her home in Colorado Springs, Colo. “And I'll retire after that.”

The 2005 Marshwood High School graduate won 100 career wrestling matches, all against boys, and was almost the first female to win a boys state high school championship, losing with four seconds to go in double overtime of her final championship match.

Her goal of wrestling in the 2012 London Games was put on hold when she and her husband, fellow Olympic wrestling hopeful Joe Betterman, announced they were expecting their first child in January of that year. Their son Mason was born that September.

On Nov. 8 of this year, the Bettermans welcomed daughter Madison, who was born five weeks premature and required a lengthy hospital stay. The Bettermans brought Madison home on Thanksgiving Day.

“It was awesome,” Betterman said, noting that Mason had also been born premature. “We kind of knew the deal, so it wasn't as nerve wracking. We knew the situation, and the children's hospital out here is one of the best. We knew she was in good hands.

“I was only in the hospital for three days, but we were visiting every day,” she added.

Betterman was thrilled last fall when the IOC reinstated wrestling through at least the 2024 Olympics. Not only did wrestling avoid the chopping block, but two weight classes were added on the women's side, including Deanna's weight class of 58 kilograms.

“Now women have six weight classes, so that's pretty big for us,” Betterman said. “Mine being added is a huge motivator. I used to have to go up or down a class to compete.”

Rix last competed at the nationals in April ― right after she found out she was pregnant with Madison ― where she finished a disappointing seventh. Joe Betterman, who has his eye on making the 2016 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, underwent neck surgery right after the nationals and also hasn't competed since.

“We actually have a little bet to see who can get back on the mat faster,” Deanna said.

The Bettermans live in the same city as the United States Olympic Training Center, where they will work toward the goal of making the 2016 team.

Of course, the biggest challenge facing the Bettermans now is parenting two small children, but it's one they undertake with a great deal of joy.

“It's a lot of work, but Joe's really helpful with that,” Deanna said. “We have a pretty good schedule worked out, so it's not too life changing. We do a lot of coaching and training as well, it's pretty much what our life consists of.”

Betterman said she and her husband are trying to convince family members to move to Colorado Springs to help out with family duties while the couple's Olympic training is in full swing. That might mean Matt Rix, Deanna's father and the longtime Marshwood coach, could be moving to Colorado for full-time grandfather duty. The Hawks are the three-time defending Class A state champions.

“We've been trying, but it's hard for him to leave the team,” Deanna said.