USAF/USAFE swimmers dominate NATO Allied Air Command Championships

  • Published
  • By Carole Chiles Fuller
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  The Air Force/U.S. Air Forces Europe swim team outraced representatives from four allied air forces to win the NATO Allied Air Command Championship May 10-12 at Aviano Air Base, Italy.

The Air Force/USAFE team ended the meet ranked No. 1 with 141 points. The German Air Force team claimed second with 102 points; Royal Air Force was third with 100.5 points; Poland Air Force fourth with 71.5 points; and Royal Netherlands Air Force fifth with 64 points.

The Inter-Nation Sports Championships – which also include basketball, cross-country running, volleyball, orienteering and soccer — reinforce mutual respect and goodwill among allied nations, according to organizers. 

Three U.S. Air Force swimmers placed in the top 10 for individual points: Lt. Ryan Dunne, a member of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program, with 1,341; 1st Lt. Tim Martinelli, an instructor pilot stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 995; and Capt. Lauren Hale, an instructor of engineering mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, 822. They also swept the top three individual standings, with Dunne claiming first with his time of 1 minute, 52.46 seconds in the 200-meter freestyle and second with his 55.93 in the 100-meter butterfly. Capt. Michael G. Schultz, officer in charge of the Brandon Clinic Pharmacy on MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, was third with his 4:10.32 in the 400-meter freestyle.

“We were able to put together an excellent team this year with a lot of participation from USAFE athletes and a diverse team from across the Air Force,” said Maj. John Dayton, swim team coach and competitor. “The competition has occurred approximately every two years and we've continued to build and present a stronger team.

“The women’s team has a long history of fast swims and winning the overall competition. The men’s team has overcome stiff competition and won the competition the past two events — in 2014 and again this year in 2016.”

Senior Airman Preston Wolter, who is stationed at Aviano and a hometown favorite, was a surprise standout as a newcomer to the U.S. Air Force team.

“He took the anchor, or fastest, position on both the men’s freestyle and medley relay events. He had big swims for the team and will be a great asset for the USAF team for years to come,” Dayton said.

But this meet is about more than fast times and medals.
 
“The gathering of different athletes from all parts of the world, from different ways of life, brought a sense of unparalleled camaraderie and competition,” Dunne said. “I compete against international athletes on a monthly basis being in the World Class Athlete Program, but to compete and relate militarily to the fellow swimmer next to you brings a sense of commonality and pride. Nothing can beat the individual and team successes, but what stood out on this experience were the people we were able to meet, domestic and foreign.”

Hale agreed, saying the motto of the meet is “friendships through sport.”

“We have the opportunity to meet fellow NATO Airmen, build friendships and compete in a sport we all love,” she said. “Every couple of years, you more or less swim with the same athletes from the other Air Forces and catch up on their Air Force career. While it means a lot to win as a team and in our individual events, it’s more about getting to know the people and their role in their Air Force.”

Coach Dayton said sportsmanship trumps racing fast. 

“To me, a standout swimmer shows sportsmanship first; introduces themselves to the other countries’ athletes, learns their story and understands their role in NATO; and only then racing fast,” he said. “Ryan is obviously a tremendous athlete from the World Class Athlete Program, and I can’t wait to see how he performs at Olympic Trials this summer. Lauren is a huge asset for our team — year after year. She not only delivers consistently fast swims, but also truly understands the importance of building and maintaining relationships with the other NATO delegations.”

After the meet, all U.S. Air Force swimmers returned to their normal duties. 

“There’s not a standing Air Force Sports swim team, so we’re bringing together a group of strangers to compete,” Dayton said. “It’s impressive how quickly the team pulls together despite our diverse backgrounds — and we do so through our common ties together as swimmers and Airmen. Watching the team cheer each other on and encourage each other on the pool deck, you would not believe that we were strangers three days before.”

Editor’s note: Dunne is representing the Air Force at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials now-July 3 in Omaha, Nebraska. When he leaves the WCAP, he will transition to undergraduate pilot training to continue his Air Force career.