RAF LAKENHEATH — Brandon Searle swims so much his pores exude chlorine and his room smells like a pool.
The 15-year-old Lakenheath High School freshman swims five days a week in hopes of one day making the Air Force Academy’s swim team.
And he’s on his way after winning the Pentathlon at the European Forces Swim League championships in Berlin in late February.
“I think I’m just built for swimming,” said Searle, who swims for Lakenheath’s base team (the high school does not have a team) and the local Mildenhall Sharks swim club.
Searle’s average time in five main events throughout the season beat out 78 others in his division to earn him the award, which was presented by William Timken, the U.S. ambassador to Germany.
He also finished first, third and fourth in swimming events throughout the weekend after competing in a wrestling tournament in Wiesbaden, where he placed fourth in his weight division.
“It was a long weekend. I was pretty banged up from the wrestling tournament when I went to swim,” he said.
Brandon’s determination “brought tears to my eyes,” said his dad and wrestling coach, Capt. Thomas Searle, a chaplain at RAF Lakenheath. This is my favorite time of my life being able to interact with him like this.”
