MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Team Tsunami, the Station's 6-15 year-old coed swim team put their heart into Sunday's performance at the Hiraki youth swim meet.
Competing against seven other Japanese teams, the swimmers came away with a first-place award for best team.
Races were held for a variety of distances and age divisions. Athletes competed in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle events.
"It was our first time winning," said team member Samantha Dignazio, "It was very special for us."
"I had two swimmers break course records for their grade divisions," said head coach Amber Craven. "Six-year-old Sabrina Dahl broke the record for the 25-meter back stroke, the 25-meter freestyle and the 50-meter freestyle. Sarina Case, 7, took the 25-meter back stroke and 100-meter freestyle record."
Case also went home with the meet's most valuable swimmer award.
The athletes spent numerous hours in practice, applying a champion's devotion to their sport.
According to Craven, the swimmers practice one-and-a-half hours, three times a week. The conditioning clearly paid off.
"All my kids placed from first to third place," said Craven. "I was so excited. I am proud of all of them."
"They really made us feel appreciated," said team member Alexandra Reynolds. "There were officials that got up and said that they were grateful we came."
More than an athletic event, the team experienced swimming competition the Japanese way.
"The rules are different in some ways," said Craven. "For instance, everyone bowed before entering the pool."
Craven recalled with a laugh the way each event started. "We are used to the usual, 'swimmers take your marks... go,' but before they start an event, an official yells, 'Ahhhh' and shoots a gun!"
A jolt of adrenaline might have been a productive start for these young athletes, but it was old-fashioned discipline, which elevated their performance to excellence.
"There wasn't one swimmer that didn't improve on their time," said Craven.