EINDHOVEN, Netherlands - The 2012 European Forces Swim League championships concluded Sunday in much the same way as the competition started: lots of records.

The two-day championships at Eindhoven’s Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep featured the toppling of 25 EFSL records.

EFSL newcomer Vincent de Munter, 11, of the Geilenkirchen Orcas set five league records during the meet, which drew 587 swimmers from 19 military-connected and international schools.De Munter also won eight gold medals, winning every individual race he competed in.

It was De Munter who set the tone early on Sunday, shattering the 11-year-old boys 200-meter individual medley record with a time of 2:46.49. The mark broke the 2:50.82 previous best, which was posted last year by Dominic Scifo of Lakenheath.

Scifo, now swimming in the 12-year-old age group, didn’t have to wait long to put his name back in the books, as he cruised to a 2:37.54 200-meter IM, beating the previous record set in 2006 by nearly four seconds. He went on to bring down two more league bests and clocked in with seven first-place swims.

One of the most anticipated early swims on Sunday was the 10-year-old boys 200-meter IM, where SHAPE Seals teammates Gregor Heim and Benjamin Balla squared off once again, after having some close battles the previous day.

The two were neck and neck heading into the breaststroke, where Heim was able to give himself a slight cushion. At the turn to head into freestyle, Heim distanced himself further, thanks to a sluggish breast to freestyle turn by Balla. Heim gave Balla some help by swimming next to the rope on freestyle and Balla tried to drift, but the lead was too match to overcome, as Heim’s 3:00.92, nine seconds better than his seeded time, was enough to earn one of his five first-place finishes.

Kaiserslautern Kingfish’s Connor Davis, 17, said his IM victory, where he used a strong kick at the end to seal the victory, was the perfect way to start the second day of competition.

“It’s a confidence booster if you win; if you get out to a good start, you’re going to finish good,” said the Ramstein High School senior, who finished the competition with five top finishes.

A “friendly” rivalry between James Jones, 14, with the Vicenza Mako Sharks and Brian Burke, 14, of the Sigonella Swordfish provided plenty of close races.

Jones, who finished with four golds and set two league records, said the championships gave him a good idea of where he stands and what he needs to work on the most.

“He motivates me, he’s probably one of the best swimmers in the EFSL,” Burke said of Jones.

Burke didn’t do so shabby, either. He had three first-place finishes and a league record.

“This is the most important meet of the year, this is where you get to showcase,” he said.

This year’s championships were a prime example of the parity that is developing in the EFSL. Forty different swimmers won gold medals at Eindhoven.

For many of the kids, it’s not really about how many races they win.

“The one reason I do the EFSL is the people, everyone’s so nice and the atmosphere is great,” said six-year league veteran Helene Seegert, 17, with the NATO Marlins. The high school junior, who hopes to swim in college had seven first-place swims this weekend, six more than last year, where she was swimming in a lower age group with SHAPE.

Other top performers included NATO teammates Sebastian Lunak, 9, and Adela Stepankova, 11. Lunak took down three league records and finished with seven gold medals. Stepankova matched Lunak’s record total and won four times.

More top gold medalists were: Caroline Ousley-Naseman, 12, Stuttgart Piranhas (7); Kilian Korth, 16, Lakenheath Barracudas (7); Alaina Scifo, 14, Lakenheath (6); Gabriela Ousley-Naseman, 9, Stuttgart (6); Chantel Wynn, 16, Wiesbaden Wahoos (5) and Matti Boveri, 10, Naples (5).

pattonm@estripes.osd.mil

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