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To define greatness, one can debate it as a quality of being great, distinguished or eminent. But to define greatness in sports, it comes down to combining ability with a specific achievement.
On Feb. 18 and 19, 86 Kaiserslautern Kingfish swimmers took their abilities to Eindhoven, the Netherlands, to compete in the European Forces Swim League championships. Teams from all over Europe competed in the two day event, creating an electrifying feeling throughout the Pieter van den Hoogenband Pool. The event would showcase the talents of the Kingfish’s finest as they performed on the league’s biggest stage. The Kingfish put their undefeated season on the line and didn’t disappoint.
The Kingfish finished with 71 total medals, the highest of any team, ahead of Naples with 52, Shape 41 and Stuttgart with 41 medals. Over the course of the two day event, Kaiserslautern earned 14 gold medals, 29 silver medals and 28 bronze medals.
Co-captain Connor Davis, 17, shined for the Kingfish as he claimed four gold medals, two silver and one bronze. He was also crowned the 2012 Pentathlon Champion for the 17-19 year old boys. This award is given to the fastest combined times in the 200 Individual Medley, 100 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly.
Davis didn’t stop there. He also took home the coveted “High Point” Championship for the 17-19 year old boys. The award is given to the swimmer who finishes with the highest cumulative point totals in all the events they swam. Davis was accompanied by 30 Kingfish swimmers ranking in the top 10 in the “High Point” competition. This award truly represents the swimmers as a whole. Swimmers who rank in the top 10 normally finish in the top five in almost all events they swim.
Paris Binard, 9, stood out as well, as she finished with two gold, three silver and three bronze. Binard rocked the EFSL community as she broke the EFSL record in the 200 meter freestyle with a time of 2:54.80, breaking the old record of 2:55.82.
Everett Plocek, 15, competed in his first EFSL championship and forced the rest of the league to take notice. He dazzled those in attendance with an amazing six silver medals and one bronze.
Other outstanding performances were given by Danielle Davis, 12, with one gold, five silver and two bronze; Alexa Hutton, 10, with two gold, two silver and one bronze; Ida Peterson, 8, with two gold, one silver and two bronze; Alison Swift, 8, with one gold; Andy Cummin, 17, with two silver and five bronze; Peter Cummin, 15, with one bronze; Bobby Gaston, 15, with one bronze; Elizabeth Gorske, 11, with two bronze; Anya Hovanic, 17, with one silver and three bronze; Lexy Meints, 15, with two silver and one bronze; Kathleen Nicholson, 8, with one silver; Cooper Peterson, 8, with one bronze; Rachel Plescha, 16, with one silver; Amy Roth, 14, with one silver and one bronze; and Holly Roth, 16, with five bronze medals.
All of these wonderful swimmers contributed to the team’s success as Kaiserlautern won the EFSL Championship for the second consecutive year. The Kingfish finished with 3,451 points, followed by the Naples Tiger Sharks with 2,255, Stuttgart Piranhas with 2,121, Wiesbaden Wahoos with 1,836 and Shape Seals with 1,470.
As most consider greatness to be based on defining moments, the Kingfish defined and designed every moment of this storybook season. Few teams can boast an undefeated regular season, the Long Distance Championship, the Rhineland Division Championship and the most distinguished title of all — the 2012 European Forces Swim League Champions.
(by Julio Quinones)
