Farnum makes himself a name in the pool at LC

RED OAK — Red Oak High School student Brandon Farnum is coming off one of his best seasons as a swimmer competing for Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs.

At the state swim meet, which took place in Marshalltown Feb. 11, Farnum, a junior took home third place in the 100-yard freestyle, swimming 47.72 seconds in the finals.

“Third place is a lot better from last year when I think I got 17th,” Farnum said.

Farnum finished behind Jonathan Fiepke of Dowling Catholic, who win with a time of 45.49 seconds, as well as runner-up Josh Gill of Dubuque Senior High School, who finished with a 46.09 seconds.
Farnum had qualified for the finals and was seeded second by swimming 47.54 seconds. Farnum said he had more confidence going into the state meet in Marshalltown, this season.

“I improved my time and I'm happy with it,” Farnum said.

Farnum also competed individually in the 50-yard freestyle finals, finishing 10th with a time of 22.09 seconds. His teammate RJ Hemmingsen finished fifth with a time of 21.69.

In the relays, Farnum and his teammates Spencer Smith, Taylor Severson and Hemmingsen placed seventh in the 200-yard free relays with a time of 1:29.49 and ninth in the 400-yard freestyle relays with a 3:17.28.

Lewis Central finished ninth at the state meet with a score of 60 points. It was a better finish for the Titans, compared to last season. Last year, they were 10th with a team score of 36 points.

“I like to improve myself, I like to set better times,” Farnum said.

Farnum added he likes competing in the relay events and it's one of the things he most looks forward to during meets.

Farnum swims at Lewis Central because his older sister also was a swimmer for the Titans. He was also a swimmer for Bruce Schomberg in USA Swimming. Schomberg is the current swimming coach for the Titans.

“That was just our opportunity,” Farnum said.

Red Oak has club swimming through the YMCA, but no sanctioned high school team.

Farnum is one of several swimmers from Red Oak to commute to Council Bluffs and compete in high school swimming. Sydney Sallach, Kelsey Thoren and Joshua Sunberg. Farnum said he's commuted with them several times.

The commute itself nearly takes an hour, one way.

“It can make for some long nights, but I like it,” Farnum said about the commute.

Farnum added the commute was difficult at times last year, with the snow on the roads. However, with the mild and dry winter, the commute was much easier for Farnum and his teammates this season.

For Farnum, he's been involved in swimming for most of his life. He likes the individual aspects of competing in swimming and how it's ultimately on himself.

“It's all about yourself, you don't really have to rely on anybody else,” Farnum said. “If you do bad, it's all on yourself, you can't blame anybody else.”

Farnum's next goal is to get an all-american time in the 100-yard freestyle, which would be around 46 seconds.

“I think that would be pretty cool to do and I'd also like to get a [college] scholarship,” he said.

The state swim meet took place on Feb. 11.

Farnum will be competing on the Red Oak boys golf team during the spring sports season.