IT was with great excitement that 29 young South Gippsland Bass swimmers aged eight to 11 raced in the pool at MSAC on Saturday.
The swimmers – who made up part of the 87-strong District 21 team –represented the seven Gippsland clubs at the 2024 Country Junior District Competition.
Gippsland once again came away champions, dominating the field with 1598 points.
The team beat second Ovens and Murray 957, third Central Victoria 891, fourth Barwon South West 543, fifth Midlands 505, sixth Hume and Upper Goulburn 162 and seventh Goulburn Valley 144.
The youngsters held their nerves together to swim against the other regional teams on the big stage.
For many of the youngsters, there was great excitement to see their names on the large screens and the footage of them and their friends racing.
Having watched their idols racing in the same pool they were now in added to the excitement.
It was also a chance for the swimmers to get to know the others from other Gippsland clubs who they race against in their age groups.
With the top eight fastest swimmers for each stroke competing in the races, it was fantastic to see South Gippsland Bass (SGB) well represented in all ages and strokes.
Coach Lorri, one of the coaches of the development and junior program was thrilled by how many of the club’s juniors were competing.
“It just shows the strength of our junior program, many of our development swimmers move up from their group to the junior squad and this is a great chance for the younger kids to have their first taste of a statewide competition,” she said.
The SGB team: Leo Lofgren, Lathan Lucas, Ted Deery, Taylan Pocklington, Caitlin Saario, Mila Potter, Austin Lynch, August Lidstone, Cooper Bennett, Hunter McRae, Matthew Thornby, Taj Kimmer, Ruby Pirouet, Hannah Hunt, Mya Richer, Imogen McLaren, Abbie Saario, Harriet White, Milli Kyle, Mitchell Packer, Cayden Gunn, Anna Mileto, Josie Richer, Daisy Giliam-Rodda, Ava Lucas, Madison Andreatta, Ethan Lynch, Darby Smyth and Tristan Stockdale.
Results:
Ted Deery: 8th 50m Freestyle.
Cayden Gunn: 5th 50m Backstroke, 4th 50m Breaststroke, 4th 50m Freestyle.
Milli Kyle: 5th 50m Freestyle, 3rd 50m Butterfly.
Ethan Lynch: 6th 50m Breaststroke.
Austin Lynch: 7th 50m Butterfly, 8th 50m Backstroke, 4th 50m Breaststroke.
Hunter McRae: 7th 50m Breaststroke.
Mitchell Packer: 5th 50m Butterfly, 8th 50m Breaststroke, 8th 50m Freestyle.
Ruby Pirouet: 4th 50 Butterfly, 2nd 50m Breaststroke, 8th 50m Freestyle.
Taylan Pocklington: 3rd 50m Breaststroke, 4th 50m Freestyle.
Josie Richer: 8th 50m Butterfly, 8th 50m Backstroke, 4th 50m Breaststroke.
Caitlin Saario: 4th 50m Butterfly, 8th 50m Freestyle.
Matthew Thornby: 5th 50m Butterfly.
Mila Potter: 5th 50m Backstroke, 4th 50m Breaststroke, 2nd 50m Freestyle.
