Masters:
Mike Van Haele
I’ve been diving 45 or so years.
My pride and joy 21 year old daughter Sara has just recently shown a spark of interest in diving, maybe she will be my partner soon?
I am unbelievably lucky to have my mentor, Gary Maugh, as a partner in these great spearfishing events (we are pretty lousy spear fishermen but a great team). All through my diving career I have enjoyed these national event, meeting all of my heroes and new personalities. Most of my best friends have evolved through our great sport.
I hate mayonnaise.
Best of luck to all of the teams. I can’t wait to see everyone.
Gary Maugh
1975, and actually used a double hose regulator back then.My summer vacations were weekends at local lakes in the Midwest, where I competed in the Midwest Diving Council tournaments.
I found out that free diving was a lot more fun than scuba, but got in trouble when I was beating the other scuba spearfishermen and wasn’t using a tank. The council quickly passed a rule stating that you had to wear a tank during scuba spearfishing completion.
In the 70’s and 80’s I won first place 10 times in the MDC free diving spearfishing year-end awards. Mike Van Heale, my dive partner, finally beat me after that. I have competed in 5 free diving Nationals.
In 1987 at Table Rock Lake, MO I had the Ernst brothers on the ropes the first day, but they came back the second day. I placed 3rd individual and 2nd team. I enjoyed the 1990 Nationals again at Table Rock.
In 2005 I came out of retirement for the Nationals at Table Rock. I thought Nationals at Greer’s Ferry, AR in 2010 would be my last, but my dive partners, Mike VanHaele and Don Hesket talked me into diving last year at Beaver Lake, AR.
I think the biggest surprise of my diving career was in 1987 when I was awarded the ISUA Diver of the Year. What an honor to be the only fresh water diver to receive this award. No, I can’t say that. The REALLY biggest surprise was shooting the most fish last year at Beaver Lake in the US of A Freediving Nationals at the age of 73.
I would be honored if each of you would help me celebrate my 74th birthday on May 19, 2017. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do on my birthday than shoot fish in the company of the world’s best spearfishermen.
Phil Lamm
I was certified in 1969, joined the MDC in 1970, and have been competing ever since. I have represented the MDC in National events at Lake Navajo in Colorado, Lake Whitney and Possum Kingdom in Texas, Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, Table Rock Lake in Missouri, Beaver Lake and Greers Ferry Lake in Arkansas, Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma, Lake Oahe in South Dakota, Dauphin Island in Alabama, and the Florida Keys, and now in Lake Mead in Nevada.
I have also enjoyed sport diving in Australia, Bahamas, Cancun, Cozumel, Fiji, Hawaii, and South Africa. I have been the tournament chairman for four different USoA National Championships, so I can appreciate the amount of time and effort that has gone into a tournament like this one. Looking forward to tipping back a few with many of the divers/friends that I have met at some of the tournaments. Ya’ll have fun, dive hard, and be safe!!
Bob Benson
I’ve been an active member of the Midwest Diving Council since 1988. I started out more heavily involved with underwater photography and gravitated to spearfishing, particularly skin spearfishing, shortly after.
I’ve had various partners during that time including my wife Linda, and have participated in many national events in some of the larger Midwest lakes, Lake Oahe in South Dakota and ocean tournaments in Alabama and Florida.
I look forward to this event in Lake Mead. I’ve never been there and am always excited about checking out a new lake. Phil and I have been shooting together for many years and work well together, but this is the first time that anyone has invited us to play in the senior division. I guess it was only a matter of time. Looking forward to seeing everyone again and sharing lies….
I mean stories about our exploits and experiences. See you soon.
