Aviano Sea Dragon Callie Sullivan swims the 8-and-under girls 50-meter backstroke during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands – Justin Jennings and Benthe de Beer have reputations that follow them across the European Forces Swim League field.

For de Beer, a lot stems from her last name, harkening back to the time her sister, Hylcke, ruled the roost as a member of the Brunssum Orcas. Benthe downplays living up to that and instead has made a name for herself.

Jennings, who now competes unattached from Bahrain, has built his renown over six years in the EFSL, winning races left and right as he has moved up the age groups.

No matter the origins of their fame, the duo managed to meet and exceed expectations on Saturday and Sunday. They won every race in which they competed during the EFSL Short-Distance Championships at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

“A lot of my friends are counting on me to go out there and do good, and I feel like I did that today,” Jennings said. “100 percent (it adds pressure), but it’s a part of sports, just coping with the pressure. I use the pressure to make myself better.”

Jennings ran the table in the 14-year-old boys group with victories in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400- meter freestyle (26.07 seconds, 57.45 seconds, 2 minutes, 3.2 seconds and 4:24.69), 100 butterfly (1:04.47), 100 breaststroke (1:15.84), 100 backstroke (1:04.89) and 200 individual medley (2:24.40).

He finished the meet as the top scorer in his age group with 160 points.

Jake Jennings, competing unattached from Bahrain, swims the butterfly leg of the 14-year-old boys individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck-Grafenwoehr Sea Viper Karson Matthey swims the breaststroke leg of the 14-year-old boys 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart Piranha Elijah Love swims the backstroke leg of the 11-year-old boys 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Jill Jennings, competing unattached from Bahrain, swims the butterfly leg of the 11-year-old girls 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Brunssum Orca Bella Romar swims the butterfly in the 12-year-old girls 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. ()

In the 10-year-old girls group, de Beer totaled 140 points to lead the way. The Orca swimmer won the 50 butterfly (36.89), 50 breaststroke (42.70), 200 IM (2:58.90), 50 and 100 freestyle (33.07 and 1:11.45) and 50 backstroke (39.88). She generally finished well ahead of nearest competitor, with the exceptions being the 50 free and 50 backstroke, which she won by less than 2 seconds.

Despite winning races like 100 free and 200 IM by double-digit seconds, de Beer said she still has room to grow.

“I don’t care if I win,” de Beer said. “If my times are good, that’s all I care about.”

To prepare for races, de Beer and Jennings have different techniques.

De Beer likes to pump her body full of sugar. She also munches on cucumbers.

Jennings, meanwhile, tries to get himself into the zone by listening to rap music by such artists as Eminem and XXXTentacion. And it worked over the weekend, especially as the Bahrain swimmer erased a 1.5-second deficit in seeding during the 100 breaststroke to win the race over Rota’s Pierson Hartley with 1:15.84 – 6.5 seconds faster than heading into the championships.

“I had some pretty big breakout swims,” Jennings said. “My breaststroke, I did not expect to win. I was seeded second by quite a bit, so I’m pretty happy I pulled that one out.”

Vicenza Mako Shark Evelyn Koon swims the 9-year-old girls 50-meter freestyle during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lisbon Bullshark Luisa Pato swims the breaststroke in the 15-to-16-year-old girls 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lisbon Bullshark Taitum Kritzinger swims the breaststroke in the 15-to-16-year-old girls 200-meter individual medley during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Brunssum Orca Benthe de Beer looks up at the scoreboard after winning the 10-year-old girls 100-meter freestyle during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Paris Eau-lympian Isabella Cheung competes in the 13-year-old girls 100-meter backstroke during the European Forces Swim League Short-Distance Championships on Feb. 11, 2024, at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion at the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Another swimmer who understands pressure brought upon by family and success is Stuttgart’s Elijah Love.

The 11-year-old Piranha’s brother, Brayden, won the 200 butterfly in the Western Athletic Conference Championships while swimming for the University of Wyoming. His mother, Mandi, runs the EFSL.

The one thing nobody in his family could claim was an EFSL record. Until Sunday, that is.

Elijah Love broke a nearly 5-year-old record set by David Cicero of 35.33 with a 34.57 in the 50 backstroke. It’s not bad for somebody who really began practicing it in earnest earlier this season.

“It doesn’t matter about how much pressure is on you,” Love said. “You got to be bold, strong and brave to put a lot of effort in and think about yourself and just swim.”

Love posted 157 points to lead his age group and was one race away from having a perfect performance over the weekend.

Like Love, Lakenheath Barracuda Jason Dalope almost ran the gamut in the 12-year-old boys division, but a loss in his favorite butterfly on Saturday kept him from perfection.

The former Kaiserslautern swimmer said he must work on his strength to have success in the stroke he deems “looks cool.”

“I could have done better, but I didn’t go to practice as much because I play other sports,” Dalope said about swimming and basketball. “I don’t know yet (about choosing one or participating in both).”

NATO Marlin Sophie Mercier also dropped just one race – the 100 breaststroke. The 13-year-old still took care of business en route to a division-high 156 points.

Mercier called freestyle and backstroke as favorites because she finds them easier. And it showed with her running away in each event.

“It’s a pretty simple concept,” Mercier said of the backstroke. “It’s almost like freestyle, except it’s on your back. So, it’s also pretty easy, and I like how smooth it feels.”