Barracuda Swim Team Places Fourth at League Championships

  • Published
  • By Virginia Silveria
  • 48th Fighter Wing
The Barracuda Swim Team placed fourth overall in the European Forces Swim League championship meet Feb. 17-18 in Munich, Germany. The Barracudas competed against 17 other teams from across Europe during the two-day meet which took place in the Olympic Swimming Complex. 

This year, 21 Barracuda swimmers were selected by the EFSL to compete.
"Since less than half of the league' s nearly 1,000 members make it to championship, we are very proud we had so many swimmers able to participate," said Team President Tracy McWilliams. "I am particularly proud of our young swimmers. Dominic Scifo and Mariah Pena 7 years old are both at the bottom of their age group and yet still won medals," she added. 

Top medal winners for the Barracudas were :

- Kilian Korth, 11 years old, won five first-place medals and broke three league records.

- Cody McWilliams, 10 years old, won five first-place medals and broke one league record.

- Konrad Korth, 17 years old, won two first-place medals, three second-place medals and broke a league record.

- Haley McWilliams 11 years old won one first-place medal and broke a league record.

- Other team members receiving medals include Jonathan Gillingham, Andy Goodenough, Lindsey LeVay, Anica Midthun, Tyler Poppenwimer, Alaina Scifo, Brandon Searle, Meagan Searle and Conner Silveria.

Medals were awarded by Steve Genter who, in the 1972 Munich Olympics, won a gold medal in the 4x200 relay and silver medals in the 200 meter and 400 meter freestyle events behind Mark Spitz.

The Barracudas won a total of 15 gold medals, six silver medals and nine bronze medals. Assistant coach and senior swimmer Konrad Korth said, "As my last year with the club, I have really enjoyed taking on a greater coaching role and Munich was the highlight. All our swimmers had incredible performances, many beyond any of our expectations."

The Barracuda Swim Club is open to all youth swimmers, elementary through high school age, from RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. For more information, contact the team at lakenheathswim@yahoo.co.uk.