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8-year-old Seth Robinson of the Kaiserslautern Kingfish appears he has half the pool draining off him through the boys 12-under 100-meter breaststroke Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, on the European Forces Swim League’s Long Distance Championships in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
LIGNANO SABBIADORO, Italy – Rae Colgan made the journey down from Vilseck, Germany, together with her mother as the only consultant of the SeaVipers on the European Forces Swim League’s Long Distance Championships.
Even if the 13-year-old’s entire staff had certified for the occasion, although, it nonetheless wouldn’t have matched the 54 swimmers the Kaiserslautern Kingfish despatched to the occasion.
The Naples Tiger Sharks had simply lower than half that quantity with 26 entrants. But they did lead the occasion in a number of issues: units of twins and essentially the most siblings entered at 5.
Many of the 18 groups entered characteristic the dependents of American active-duty navy personnel stationed round Europe. But some are principally made up of NATO allies.
There was one apparent commonality, although: These children wish to spend time within the pool.
“It’s the place where I feel the most comfortable,” mentioned Colgan, who additionally swims for a German staff off base.
She wasn’t feeling alone. Her mom, Erin, was within the stands.
“And I have friends on other teams,” she mentioned.
The eighth-grader can have some extra choices for sports activities in highschool subsequent 12 months. For now, although, she’s not .
“I’m sticking with swimming,” she mentioned.
Others are already concerned in different sports activities as properly. Seven-year-old twins Charlie and Henry Cornwell follow swimming 3 times per week. They play soccer on base two different days. So do 10-year-old brother Jack and 12-year-old twin sisters Sydney and Olivia. The older twins additionally play volleyball.
Somehow, Rachel Cornwell additionally finds time to educate the staff. And, sure, she’s heard the jokes concerning the household having their very own basketball staff.
“It’s a lot,” she mentioned. “But it’s also fun.”
Neither Charlie or Henry mentioned they had been informed they needed to be aggressive swimmers. And they checklist completely different the explanation why they take pleasure in it.
“When you win, you get a duckie,” Charlie mentioned.
“We get to travel more (than soccer),” Henry mentioned.
Travel is one thing else that virtually everybody has in frequent. The host staff, the Aviano Sea Dragons, relies about an hour away from the Bella Italia Village complicated that’s internet hosting the occasion. The Vicenza Aqua Lions are about twice that far. Other groups had for much longer drives or flew.
The Brunssum Orcas and head coach Peter Wetzels had been amongst those that arrived by air. Wetzels first began teaching within the league in 1988 when it was composed of groups from the Benelux and lots of competitions had been towards German groups.
Wetzels mentioned he’s seen loads of adjustments. But quite a bit hasn’t as properly.
“The kids are still the same,” he mentioned. “They study sportsmanship and all get alongside. Adults might get study a number of issues from them. We have children from so many nations round Europe now.
“I don’t care about nationalities. I love them all.”
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