Swimmers dig deep and reap

THE stands of MSAC were full of supportive families as 29 South Gippsland Bass (SGB) swimmers competed at the Age LC championships at MSAC on March 9-13. 

The team, 11 of whom will head to the National Championship at the Gold Coast next month, all competed in a range of distances in which they had met the tough qualifying times against the best of swimmers from across Victoria. 

The squad, the third biggest from a regional Victorian club, had swimmers racing over the five days in the 12-18-year old categories. 

It has been a busy few weeks for the swimmers, but they dug deep and were still able to manage PBs and to make finals in races where milliseconds separate 10th and 40th. 

Some events have more than 90 swimmers, so to be able to make finals is a superb achievement. 

There were five swimmers old enough to compete for the first time, who got advice about racing in the pools from the older swimmers. 

The proper race blocks and backstroke ledges are not available for the SGB swimmers to practise on in their local pools, so every meet like this they compete at improves their learning and puts them in good stead for next weekend’s All Juniors.

The older swimmers have had some big race meets of late, especially coming off a lot of racing at the Gippsland Championships a fortnight ago, but with nationals around the corner, racing against their rivals gave them a good chance to see what they need to work on.

“The swimmers have dug deep over the weekend and swum well, maintaining and improving their times and a number have made the finals. Some of them had a big load as they had qualified for several events but they still performed well,” said head coach Dylan.

“They should be proud of their performances. When they get out of the pool smiling it’s always a good sign they are having fun and are pleased with their effort and at the end of the day, that’s what is important.”

The team, the largest SGB has sent to the Victorian Long Course championships, highlights the strength and popularity of the sport in the area. 

The 29 swimmers who represented SGB were Asha Chalmers, Billy Boyd, Billy Fisher, Claudia Croatto, Cooper Quaife, Cormac Flynn, Freya Berry, Gypsy Quaife, Harper McRae, Hayden Barnesn, Holly Hurst, Hugh Munro, Isabel Croatto, Jarrah Tagell, Jasmine Ruffin, Josh Hunt, Kuga Heenan, Maddi Boyd, Max Brocklesby, Miah Roberts, Mostyn Lumsden, Olivia Holmes, Rahni Matheson, Rebecca Barclay, Sienna Hunt, Sienna Matheson, Skye Munro, Will Simmons, Zac Sherar.