SIGONELLA SWORDFISH

Sigonella Swordfish Reinforce Winning Reputation

By Capt. Brice Goodwin, USNH Sigonella

Sixteen Sigonella Swordfish swimmers competed at the European Forces Swim League’s (EFSL) annual Long Distance Championship held in Brugge, Belgium over Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

True to their reputation of being a small but fierce team, the swordfish swimmers displayed their successful skill for 13 podium finishes.

David Goodwin rounded out the Swordfish wins in the boy’s 15-16 age group, collecting three gold medal finishes. Giada D’Ignoti covered down for the girl’s 13-14 age group, sweeping gold in her three events. Jake Jennings and Brayden DeBoer, boys ten year age group, followed up with two gold medal and two sixth place wins in their 400 meter and 800 swims. Alyah Perkins proudly walked away with one silver and two bronze medals in the girl’s 15-16 age group. Avery DeBoer and Jill Jennings, girls eight and under age group, brought home two silver medals.

Head Coach Justin Jennings focused practices on increasing endurance and efficiency for the longer distances in preparation for this season culminating event,

When asked about their training routine, Coach Tony Dinatale remarked that the swimmers “had the right focus on sets and practices” which led to “experienced swimmers dropping thirty-plus seconds in events.”

The time improvements extended to much of the team, with Emma Jarosz, girl’s 10 year age group, dropping 41 seconds in her 800m, and Gabriella Goodwin, girl’s 13-14 year age group, dropping 23 seconds in her 400 individual medley to place first in her heat.

Grace Cooper’s, girls 13- 14 year age group, power and determination were on display during the breaststroke cycle of her 400 individual medley, enable her to turn a 15 meter gap into a 20 meter advantage over her competitor.

The first step in receiving an invitation to compete in the championships is to meet preestablished time standards based on age and gender. Through daily repetitions of stroke refinements, turns, starts, and finishes, 21 Swordfish swimmers qualified.

Sixteen finalists were selected to travel and compete against swimmers from 16 other teams in the EFSL to put their skills and endurance to the test against the best of the best long distance swimmers in the league.

Coach Austin Link, who swam competitively during high school, and also works as a Physical Therapy Technician at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, ensured swimmers had properly warmed up and stretched prior to their races to reduce the potential of strains and injuries. “My goal is to make sure they have the right mental attitude in preparation for their race, and to also make sure they’re physically prepared in order to compete and meet their goals.”

This winning physical and mental preparation extended well beyond top place finish medals; David Goodwin, Giada D’Ignoti, and Jake Jennings also accumulated the most points in their races and were awarded High Points Winner trophies for their age groups from across the EFSL.

Giada also reset the achievement bar for EFSL record-breaking times in all three of her events.

Following a few days of welldeserved rest the swimmers were back in the pool with a new practice set to prepare for their short distance championships at the end of February.