IT WAS a massive end of year for the experienced swimmers from South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club. While many of their contemporaries from school were relaxing after a busy year, 34 swimmers were giving it their all, competing at the Victorian Mattioli Championships at MSAC between December 14-18. Many of the swimmers competed in seven or eight events and some finals, making it a hectic five days.
It was a busy weekend, with a total 1589 swimmers competing at the event, with competitors not only from Victoria, but also coming from interstate and overseas, however this did not hinder the SGB swimmers who gave it their best and held their own, coming in 12th position in the team standings.
This is even more impressive when you consider many of the larger clubs had relays which helped their team point score. While SGB didn’t, the coaches recognised it was a busy time for families and they could return home instead of hanging around for the evening session.
Coach Dylan was thrilled with their results.
“They all swam so well, pretty much on PB times and there was no one who had real disaster swims or efforts. There were a number who, despite all the racing they had done, lifted on the big stage and still took a few seconds off their best time. We had a third of the swimmers making finals and then a quarter of our swimmers coming home with a medal.”
Archie Smyth broke the Country record in the 12-year-olds 100m Backstroke, with a new time of 1:03:57, breaking the old record by two seconds.
Another highlight of the event was the chance for the swimmers to meet and talk to several Olympians and seek advice, with many of the Dolphins there to chat to the young swimmers.
For the SGB swimmers, the one they all wanted to talk to was former SGB swimmer and Dolphin, now Performance Pathways Co-ordinator, Bowen Gough, who took time to chat and pose for photos with the young swimmers.
The event has races ranging from 50m to 1500m events, with SGB swimmers racing in all distances. The event was live streamed with families, friends and other squad members cheering on at home over the five days. The commentators were very positive in their comments about the SGB swimmers and what they and their coaches have achieved.
The swimmers have a short break over the Christmas period, with two major championships – the State Sprints at MSAC and the Country Championships in Mildura coming up in January.
Results:
Max Brocklesby 15yrs: 9th 800m Freestyle
Gemma Cook 12yrs: 3rd 50 Backstroke, 2nd 50 Breaststroke, 1st 200m Freestyle, 1st 100m Backstroke, 1st 50m Freestyle, 2nd 200m IM, 2nd 50m Butterfly
Claudia Croatto 15: 4th 100 Breaststroke, 3rd 200m Breaststroke, 10th 50m Freestyle, 10th 200m IM
Emily Croatto 12: 11th 200m IM, 3rd 200m Breaststroke
Sienna Hunt 14: 6th 200m Butterfly
Levi Jarrett 12: 2nd 50 Backstroke, 2nd 50 Breaststroke, 2nd 100m Breaststroke, 2nd 100m Backstroke, 2nd 50m Freestyle, 2nd 200m IM, 2nd 100m Freestyle
Mostyn Lumsden: 10th 200m Butterfly
Rahni Matheson 16: 2nd 100 Breaststroke, 11th 50m Freestyle, 5th 100m Backstroke
Hugh Munro 16: 8th 200m Backstroke, 13th 400m IM
Georgia Perry 13: 3rd 50m Freestyle
Miah Roberts 15: 3rd 100m Backstroke, 4th 200m Backstroke, 5th 400m IM
Archie Smyth 12: 1st 200 Backstroke, 1st Backstroke, 1st 50m Freestyle, 5th 200m Freestyle, 7th 200m IM
Zac Sherar 16: 4th 800 Freestyle, 11th 100m Breaststroke, 9th 100m Freestyle, 6th 200m Freestyle, 3rd 400m Freestyle
The team:
Rebecca Barclay, Max Brocklesby, Rex Brocklesby, Asha Chalmers, Nyah Chapman, Gemma Cook, Claudia Croatto, Emily Croatto, Isabel Croatto, Molly Dettbarn, Billy Fisher, Maggie Fisher, Cormac Flynn, Josh Hunt, Sienna Hunt, Holly Hurst, Levi Jarrett, Hannah Lucas, Mostyn Lumsden, Isabella Lynch, Rahni Matheson, Tayah Matheson, Neka McKenzie, Hugh Munro, Georgia Perry, Miah Roberts, Jemma Rump, Zac Sherar, Will Simmons, Aidan Smyth, Archie Smyth, Lara Smyth, Jarrah Tagell and Jedda Tagell.
