***image1***Athletes, coaches and parents gathered to recognize swimmers’ individual and team accomplishments during the annual Kaiserslautern Kingfish Awards Banquet April 19 at the Ramstein Officers’ Club.
Tom Brown, Kingfish Board president, congratulated the team on an outstanding season and thanked coaches and parents for their dedication. He made mention of all the swimmers’ displays of teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the season and highlighted the team’s win at the European Forces Swim League Championships in February.
Developmental, junior varsity and varsity coaches recognized all swimmers for their participation during the 2007-2008 swim season with special mention made to those individuals who qualified for the championship meet or broke Kingfish or ESFL records.
High school athletes, meeting DODDS academic and EFSL athletic criteria, were awarded junior varsity and varsity letters from their respective schools for the 2007-2008 season. Special recognition was given to team captains Megan Williamson, Olivia Grazak and Blake Davis. Younger swimmers in kindergarten to eighth grade were awarded the Kingfish Small “K” Award for meeting academic and athletic standards.
Coach Bob Clinton presented Most Improved Swimmer Awards to Anjelica Tujo, Kevin Tarnowski, Danielle Davis, Joe Williamson, Isabella Tyson, Sophia Bishop, Megan Williamson and Peter Cummin. Swimmers winning the Outstanding Swimmer Award were Isabella Bishop, Alyssa Cummin, Hannah Shortsleeve, Madeline Bishop, Taylor Glass, Stephen Tarnowski and Drew Thomas. Coach’s Award Winners were Tessla Barnes, Blake Davis, Sarah Doe, Lucas Cummin, Emily Gage, Sarah Mallette, Emma Thomas and Lily Thomas.
The event ended with Olivia Grazak, Ramstein High School senior, being inducted into the Kingfish Hall of Fame. Olivia has been part of the Kingfish Swim Team for 10 years. During those years, she held several Kingfish records and qualified for each year’s ESFL Championship meet.
The Kingfish Swim Team is open to individuals between ages 6 and 19 interested in swimming at a competitive level. For more information, visit the Kingfish Web site at www.kingfishswimteam.com.