DREAM BIG

By Charm Carpenter

Red Oak Express

Most everyone dreams of making a name of himself in an athletic way at one time or another in life. Most come to reality as they ride the bench in high school sports. But for one 2013 Red Oak graduate, this dream just became a reality. Brandon Farnum swam in the Olympic trials cut held at CenturyLink Center Omaha in the Omaha Cup, Friday and Saturday, June 17-18.

Farnum swam for the Council Bluffs Swim Club, coached by Bruce Schomburg, Lewis Central swim coach. 

“I swam on the Lewis Central team in high school,” Farnum said. “It’s been great training with my former coach.”

Farnum began training for this in February. He said his best shot was in the 50 free, but he also tried out for the 100 free and the 100 butterfly. “I’m about two seconds away from the time cut in the 100 free,” Farnum explained. “I don’t think I will make it in the 100 free or butterfly, but I would like to be within a second of the time cuts.”

Indeed, Farnum just missed qualifying by less than 2 seconds. 

“If I don’t make the cut, I will take two weeks off of training,” Farnum said. “That will be the first time in over a year that I’ve even had a week off of training.” 

Farnum began swimming as a child and was on the swim team until sixth grade. A knee injury in eighth grade took away football and track. His mother encouraged him to go back to swimming. 

“I was never a super, stand-out kid, but I had good technique,” Farnum explained. “Mom knew that and bribed me with a mountain bike.” 

Freshman year was tough, Farnum admitted, due to the fact that he had not actively been in swimming since sixth grade. Farnum improved enough by the following year to make it to state and he placed 24th. 

“By my junior year, I had improved quite a bit and placed third in state,” Farnum said.  “It was at that time that I decided to train all summer and committed myself to swimming.” 

It was also the year he went to watch the Olympic trials in Omaha. “I think everyone there was wishing they could swim in that pool,” Farnum said. “It’s top of the line and famous Olympians swam there. It was eye opening.”

In his senior year, two weeks before state, Farnum received an email from the University of Iowa. The coaches wanted to watch him perform at state. Although Farnum dropped to fourth place in rankings, he knocked his time down. Farnum knew if he was to swim in college it would be a bigger time commitment. He talked again to recruiters from the University of Iowa and visited the school. He met the team and toured the facility. The pool was brand new and first rate. 

“I was offered a spot on the team as a walk on and I took it right away,” Farnum said. 

Technically, Farnum’s time was not fast enough but the coaches saw potential. The first year, he only traveled to Notre Dame and Purdue. There are about 35 members on the team, but only 23 travel. With training year round, Farnum was able to significantly drop his times, and since his sophomore year he has been a member of the traveling roster. 

Training time is regulated by the NCAA and each team member puts in 20 hours a week. “That includes weightlifting, yoga and swim practice. Sunday is our recovery day.”

“I really like the relays,” Farnum said. “It’s not all about the individual, but it’s about the team.”

Farnum’s goals for his final year at the University include taking the two relays he is on and placing higher in the NCAA.

Although Farnum did not qualify to swim on the Olympic team, his times for his events, training, and work on the Hawkeyes team has indeed helped him to make a name for himself in the world of athletes.