Q and A with Calvin Bettencourt
We sat down with TSC 2007 Williamson Showcase midfielder Calvin Bettencourt who encountered a life and death situation.
TSC: What TSC team are you on?
Calvin: I’m currently playing on the 2007 Williamson Boys Showcase team.
TSC: Tell us about your experience in Florida over Fall Break.
Calvin: Fall break was very fun and relaxing overall. I stayed at my friend’s house with four other friends and we had a great time watching movies, biking around, swimming, playing sports, and doing other activities.
On one of the last days of break, however, an incident occurred. My friends and I were playing spikeball on the shore and it was my turn to sit out and let someone else play. I’m not sure why, but I was drawn out to go play with and watch after my friend’s little brother and his friend while waiting my turn. On a sand bar that was pretty far from shore, we began playing a game with an inflatable ball the size of a volleyball that would later save our lives.
Although I’m not sure how it exactly happened, my friend’s little brother got sucked out into the ocean where he couldn’t stand. I saw him struggling as waves crashed over his head, so I swam out to him with the ball. I gave him the ball, and told him to hold on to it tight. His friend was also sucked out, although he remained close to the sandbar. I realized we were caught in a rip current, and as I tried to swim sideways out of it, we only got sucked farther out. I decided that it would be best to swim against the rip current to avoid getting pulled farther out, although it was very strenuous. After about five minutes, the boy’s friend made it to the sandbar where he could stand again. I yelled after him to get us help, although I knew he wouldn’t be able to make it back to the shore for quite some time. I continued to wave my hands above my head and swim against the rip current with the boy in one arm. I began to get exceedingly tired, however I knew stopping wasn’t an option. After about ten minutes of struggling, people finally saw my hands waving and two of my friends and about five dads rushed out to come help us. They pulled us back onto the sandbar and helped us back onto shore.
TSC: What was going through your mind when you were in the ocean trying to save someone’s life?
Calvin: Staying calm and keeping the boy calm was the first thing on my mind. I worked hard to reassure the boy that we would be okay. Of course, I had other emotions and thoughts that I had to push back in order to keep calm. Just the thought and sight of all of my friends having a great time on shore while me and the boy I was helping were in deep trouble felt extremely stressful and surreal to me. As time went on, I felt my energy steadily depleting as we made little progress towards shore. After about nine minutes, I felt my hope begin to waver, however I knew I needed to stay strong for the boys sake. While in the water, I found myself subconsciously praying. I felt a sudden burst of energy and determination as I continued struggling that helped me stay afloat. And now, after everything happened, I strongly feel like there was a greater force at hand. So many things lined up perfectly for me to go save the boy and for us to both return safely.
TSC: How do you feel when people say you are a hero?
Calvin: Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being called a hero. The whole situation happened so quickly and me swimming out to help the boy felt like second nature. After getting back to the shore, I didn’t feel any desire to receive praise; all that was important to me was the fact that both of us were safe and the satisfaction and thankfulness of knowing we could continue on living our lives.
TSC: What have you learned from this experience?
Calvin: My perspective on life changed greatly as an outcome of the whole incident. I learned just how easily a life can be taken away, which helped me come to grips with not taking life for granted. Before the incident, never in a thousand years would I have thought that I would get close to dying in my teen years. The experience served as a wake-up call for me and since it all turned out the way it did, (with everyone safe), I am glad it all happened as I feel it helped shape me into the person I am today.
TSC: What does going through this mean to you?
Calvin: I feel that the situation has matured me in various ways. For one, I feel a greater confidence in myself now, knowing that I reacted the way I did in a stressful and dangerous situation. The experience also allowed me to have a greater view of the bigger picture in life. Things I once stressed about have ceased to worry me after going through a situation where I genuinely thought I would die. The whole ordeal means a lot to me as it granted me a deeper dive into my character and taught me a great deal about myself. I feel grateful for the life I have been given, and I am thankful to the experience for these reasons. I feel relieved that the boy is safe and the family of the little boy didn’t have to go through the mourning of a lost family member; this relief serves as the greatest fulfillment I can possibly receive. Overall, I feel the situation resulted in positives that outweigh any trauma from our near death experience.
Tennessee Soccer Club (TSC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Williamson County and the surrounding Greater Nashville area. TSC’s Mission is “to promote a love for soccer by developing excellence in the game for our players and coaches to positively impact our member families and communities.”
Since 2012, TSC has been the premier youth soccer club in the state of Tennessee and currently serves over 3,500 players participating in recreational, competitive and/or supplemental soccer programs across four locations: TSC Murfreesboro, TSC Nashville, TSC Sumner and TSC Williamson. TSC teams compete locally, regionally, and nationally in leagues such as the Tennessee Youth Soccer League, USYS National League and Mid South Conference, and the Elite Clubs National League. TSC also fields two U23 pre-professional teams competing in USL W League (women’s) and USL League Two (men’s). TSC has won multiple state and national championships in recent years through competition in these leagues.
Fall State Cup All-Tournament Teams Announced
FRANKLIN, TN –
Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the 2023 Fall Tennessee State Cup. The Tennessee State Soccer Association released the All-Tournament Teams and Tennessee Soccer Club was well represented.
2023 Fall State Cup All-Tournament Teams
12U Girls D1
TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Premier MA
Alyssa Thompson
Ryan Wilkes
Ellanor Schwinn
12UG D2
TSC Williamson 2013 Girls Premier White
Malia Zaghouani
12UG D3
TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Elite JG
Nefeli Graves
Elle Thomson
TSC Williamson 2012 Girls EB
Maryn Adams
Amelia Duff
12U Boys D1
TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier
David Levine
Gaius Neloms
William Hayman
12U Boys D2
TSC Williamson 2012 Boys Premier Blue
Landon Davis
Hayden Wilkinson
15U Boys D2
TSC Murfreesboro 2009 Showcase
Kaeden Linstead
16U Boys D1
TSC Williamson 2008 Boys Showcase
John Thomas Parkerson
17U Boys D1
TSC Murfreesboro 2007 Boys Showcase
Grayson Gibson
TSC Sumner 2007 Boys Showcase
Daniel Vasconcelos
TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Showcase
Logan Macy
17U Boys D3
TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite
Zach Arents
Jack Landers
Jake Solan
Peyton Rudiger
18U Boys D1
TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase
Brian Pleitez
Decklan Hand
Sam Melek
TSC Nashville 2006 Boys Showcase
Yeferson Gavarrete
19U Boys D2
TSC Murfreesboro 2005/2006 Boys Showcase
Erreguin Jesse
19U Boys D3
TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Premier
Ryan Link
Bryan Mendez
Tennessee Soccer Club (TSC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Williamson County and the surrounding Greater Nashville area. TSC’s Mission is “to promote a love for soccer by developing excellence in the game for our players and coaches to positively impact our member families and communities.”
Since 2012, TSC has been the premier youth soccer club in the state of Tennessee and currently serves over 3,500 players participating in recreational, competitive and/or supplemental soccer programs across four locations: TSC Murfreesboro, TSC Nashville, TSC Sumner and TSC Williamson. TSC teams compete locally, regionally, and nationally in leagues such as the Tennessee Youth Soccer League, USYS National League and Mid South Conference, and the Elite Clubs National League. TSC also fields two U23 pre-professional teams competing in USL W League (women’s) and USL League Two (men’s). TSC has won multiple state and national championships in recent years through competition in these leagues.
TSC 2012 Girls Lift State Cup Championship Trophy
MURFREESBORO, TN – The Tennessee Soccer Club Williamson 2012 Girls Premier team triumphed on Sunday, earning the Tennessee State Soccer Association Fall State Cup Championship at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.
The girls, competing in their first state cup tournament, won the championship in dramatic fashion in a penalty kick shootout against rival FC Alliance. The U-12 team advanced to the final after a 5-0 victory over Tennessee United Soccer Club in the semifinal match.
“We are very proud of the girls who were able to lift the trophy in their very first year of state cup play,” said U12-U14 Girls Director Dean Blain. “What a great achievement for that group as they begin their journey at the older age groups.”
Five other TSC teams advanced to their respective championship matches. The TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier White team fell in a heartbreaking penalty shootout and the TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier Blue was edged in their final. Both U-11 teams played up a year in the U-12 age group.
TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase and TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite also were finalists on Sunday.
On Saturday, in the U-19 Division I final, the TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Showcase team traded goals in an entertaining game, finishing 3-3 through regulation and overtime, going to another penalty shootout. Luck was not on their side, however, as the team was not able to capture the championship, finishing as finalists.
Overall, TSC crowned one champion, had five finalists, five semi-finalists, and seven quarterfinalists.
“All of our TSC teams competed hard throughout the tournament and represented the club well,” Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan said. “We are looking forward to the older girls beginning their seasons and now we focus on the winter and spring.”
State Cup Champions
2012 Williamson Girls Premier
State Cup Finalists
2005/06 Williamson Boys Showcase
2006 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase
2007 Williamson Boys Elite
2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier White
2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier Blue
State Cup Semifinalists
2005/06 Williamson Boys Premier
2012 Williamson Boys Premier Blue
2012 Williamson Girls Elite JG
2012 Williamson Girls Elite EB
2013 Williamson Girls Premier White
State Cup Quarterfinalists
2005/06 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase
2006 Nashville Boys Showcase
2007 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase
2007 Sumner Boys Showcase
2007 Williamson Boys Showcase
2008 Williamson Boys Showcase
2009 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase
For more results from the 2023 Tennessee Fall State Cup, click here.
Tennessee Soccer Club (TSC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Williamson County and the surrounding Greater Nashville area. TSC’s Mission is “to promote a love for soccer by developing excellence in the game for our players and coaches to positively impact our member families and communities.”
Since 2012, TSC has been the premier youth soccer club in the state of Tennessee and currently serves over 3,500 players participating in recreational, competitive and/or supplemental soccer programs across four locations: TSC Murfreesboro, TSC Nashville, TSC Sumner and TSC Williamson. TSC teams compete locally, regionally, and nationally in leagues such as the Tennessee Youth Soccer League, USYS National League and Mid South Conference, and the Elite Clubs National League. TSC also fields two U23 pre-professional teams competing in USL W League (women’s) and USL League Two (men’s). TSC has won multiple state and national championships in recent years through competition in these leagues.
