IT WAS a great celebration as South Gippsland Bass (SGB) swim club gathered for their Presentation Evening for the 2024/2025 season at Inverloch on Saturday.
Getting together for a meal and games after a few weeks break, it gave families and swimmers a chance to catch up in a relaxed atmosphere before the short course racing season starts.
Coach Dylan was pleased with the year, highlighting the club’s growing numbers and its new achievements this season which included having two swimmers selected in the Team Vic Triathlon team and five representing the Team Vic Swim team.
Additionally, two swimmers were selected for state-level pathway programs.
Several swimmers took on open water swimming with some competing at the State Titles, as well as a number of them taking out prizes in the Channel Challenge and the Penguin Dash.
SGB’s Masters team is now able to compete, with the club having several representatives in the Masters National Championships and one of its swimmers heading to the World Championships.
With its strengthening teams, SGB came away in third place again at Countries in Mildura in very trying conditions, just two weeks after finishing sixth at the Victorian Sprint Championships.
A number of swimmers made finals at State and National levels, with some medals won at States, but with SGB not entering relay teams, its placings weren’t as high.
However, the results the swimmers schieved were fantastic coach Dylan said.
“At Gippies, our Girls won the points competition for the first time ever, the first time in 25 years Traralgon has been beaten,” he noted.
Coach Sam was thrilled with the ongoing growth in the juniors.
“We had our term two race nights last week at our two pools and to see all our juniors having great fun, enjoying their first taste of racing is always fun,” she said.
“I look around at these nights and see so many of our older swimmers who started out at junior race night and are now swimming at Nationals.”
Coach Lorri was thrilled with the growth in the Multi-class groups this year.
“To have a whole team of Multi-class swimmers at Nationals and States makes such a difference,” she said.
“Our relay teams have done so well at the championships, and winning Gold and Bronze in the mixed ability at Countries was so exciting, as was seeing all the other clubs encouraging the swimmers to the finish line.”
The coaches gave out their awards to the swimmers who they saw make huge efforts throughout the year.
They went to: Coach Sarah - Josh Hunt, Coach Lorri - Byron Doran, Coach Sam - Lathan Lucas, Coach Dylan - Finn Middleton, and Coach Trinity - Miah Roberts.
The Club Champion awards went to Rahni Matheson and Archie Smyth, two swimmers who have excelled in the racing over the year at state levels, as well as being a great support to others in the team.
Multiclass male and female champions were presented to Levi Jarrett and Gemma Cook respectively.
The age champions are:
8 and Under: Taylan Pocklington and Ryan Thornby
9-10 years: Ruby Pirouet and Oliver Jarrett
11-12 years: Emily Croatto and Archie Smyth
13-14 years: Sienna Hunt and Rex Brocklesby
15-16 years: Rahni Matheson and Zac Sherar
17 and over: Trinity O’Keefe and Mostyn Lumsden
The swimmer who had the most improved times for the season was Isabel Croatto, who was congratulated for her effort in her commitment to increasing her training and as a consequence seeing a large improvement on her times from the previous season.
Three names were added to the Gippies 10-year Shield, swimmers who have competed in 10 years of racing at the Gippsland Championship, Hannah Simmons, Skye Munro and Lorri McKenzie.
These swimmers have shown commitment and it is a great honour to have competed for that many years.
The team captains thanked the club for letting them lead the team for the year, saying they love the club, its culture and the friends they have made, with that justifying getting up at 5am.
The club thanked its sponsors, NAB who sponsor the junior race nights, Saputo, Browns, Wonthaggi Workmens club, Bakers Delight, Woolworths and Brandt, who have all helped the club cover running costs, hire coaches and enter relay teams in competitions.
The club is greatly indebted to the volunteers who run it, especially the executive Penny Hunt, Hanna Lofgren and Janelle Croatto, recognising the hours they put in to keep the club going.
Special mention went to Janelle Croatto who has finished her term as President after three years in the role and is taking on the position of treasurer.
