GIPPSLAND SWIMMERS
‘SWEEP THE POOL’!
A team of 44 Gippsland (District 21) Swimmers travelled to Melbourne on 1st March to compete at the Victorian Country Inter-district Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Park. The team, comprised of swimmers from Traralgon, Morwell, Warragul, East Gippsland Water Dragons, Sale, and South Gippsland Bass swim clubs, was victorious in again winning the Championship taking out the Bill Willmot Trophy for the 16th year in a row.
The trophy was accepted by Team Captains Ben Geard (Traralgon) and Caitie Mitchell (Traralgon). Gippsland also brought home the Sovereign Hill Trophy which is awarded to the District gaining the most points for the four Open relay events contested on the day of competition. The top three overall highest point scoring Districts were: 1st District 21 (Gippsland) 1,130 points; 2nd District 20 (Ovens and Murray) 900 points; and 3rd District 11 (Geelong) 882 points.
Coach, Frank Strini (East Gippsland Water Dragons Swim Club, Bairnsdale), led the team and was assisted by team managers David Meyer (Traralgon) and Veronica Roberts (Traralgon). All Swimmers, the Coach and Team Managers were presented with new district shirts embroidered with major sponsor, International Power Loy Yang B Mitsui and Co. and Gippsland Swimming logos. Each swimmer was presented with a bright red swim cap, featuring major sponsor, International Power Loy Yang B Mitsui and Co. and Gippsland Swimming logos. All were thrilled to proudly wear new up to date shirts and bright caps.
Three Gippsland Swimming officials, Faye Staughton (East Gippsland Water Dragons), Noelle Brajkovic (Warragul) and Andy Barnes (Sale) took up the task of referees at the meet, with parents also assisting with timekeeping as required
Swimmers competed in 40 individual events and dominated achieving 15 firsts, 8 seconds, 7 thirds, 3 fourths, 3 fifths, 2 sixths & 2 ninths. In the 24 relay events swum on the day the Gippsland team attained 12 firsts, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, 3 fourths and 1 fifth.
Coach, Frank Strini, who also swam at the meet, was full of praise for the swimmers. He said that it was a great inspiration for him to see swimmers who normally compete against each other in Inter Club competition coming together as such a strong team. Gippsland once again can be proud of not only its swimmers for the hard work and dedication which they apply to their sport, but proud also of their respective clubs’ coaches, parents and supporters.
Annie Pepper (Morwell) was the youngest swimmer of the team at only 8 yrs old achieving 3rd place in the 10 & under 50m backstroke and 5th place in the 10 & under 50m butterfly.
A highlight of the day were the 17 & over and the 15/16yrs relays where the Gippsland teams, both male and female were outstanding, winning every relay event contested. Members of these teams were Frank Strini (East Gippsland Water Dragons); Sarah Crowe (Sale); Katie Mitchell, Kristie Smith, Steph Morgan, Sarah Berryman, Charlie Askew, Kirsten Leishout, Andrew O’Connor, Ben Geard, Sven Errikkson, Jeremy Meyer, Jye Thompson & Brayden Waltham (Traralgon); and Kylie Black & Dean Bickerdike (Warragul).
Other highlights were Dean Bickerdike (Warragul) winning the 15/16yrs 100m freestyle in a personal best time of 56.70 seconds; Elliot Shaw (Traralgon) winning the 13/14yrs 100m butterfly in a personal best time of 1:06.63 seconds; Rebecca Wardell (Warragul) winning the 13/14yrs 100m butterfly in a personal best time of 1:09.30 seconds; and Sven Erikkson (Traralgon) winning the 17 & over 50m freestyle in a personal best time of 24.48 seconds.
Individual results were:- Caitie Mitchell 1st 17 & Over50 Free, 1st 17 & Over 50 Breast, 3rd 17 & Over 50 Fly; Ben Geard 1st 17 & Over50 Back, 1st 17 & Over50 Breast; Mitchell Young 1st 11-12 100 Breast, 1st 11-12 100 Free; Brayden Waltham 1st 15-16 100 Fly, 2nd 15-16 100 Back; Rebecca Wardell 1st 13-14 100 Fly, 2nd 13-14 100 Breast, 3rd 13-14 100 Free; Elliot Shaw 1st 13-14 100 Fly, 3rd 13-14 100 Free, 3rd 13-14 100 Back; Dean Bickerdike 1st 15-16 100 Free; Sven Eriksson 1st 17 & Over 50 Free; Jeremy Meyer 1st 15-16 100 Breast; Sarah Crowe 1st 17 & Over50 Back; Stephanie Morgan 1st 15-16 100 Fly; Ben Ainsworth 1st 10 & Under 50 Breast, 9th 10 & Under 50 Free; James Vandersteen 2nd 11-12 100 Fly, 2nd 11-12 100 Back; Lily Collins 2nd 11-12 100 Breast, 5th 11-12 100 Free; Charlee Gough 2nd 11-12 100 Fly; Kirsten Lieshout 2nd 15-16 100 Breast; Andrew O'Connor 2nd 17 & Over50 Fly; Erin Roberts 3rd 10 & Under 50 Breast, 4th 10 & Under 50 Free; Annie Pepper 3rd 10 & Under 50 Back, 5th 10 & Under 50 Fly; Bowen Gough 3rd 10 & Under 50 Fly; Alexander Spehar 4th 10 & Under 50 Back; Abby Derbyshire 4th 11-12 100 Back; Josh Perry 5th 13-14 100 Breast; Sarah Berryman 6th 15-16 100 Free, 6th 15-16 100 Back; Emma Wallis 9th 13-14 100 Back.
Other swimmers who supported the team in relays were Hannah Accardi, Charley Askew, Kylie Black, Taylah Da Ros, Caroline Lee, Alice Lieshout, Danielle Reed, Kristie Smith, Georgia Tsebelis, Shaylee Wedlock, Ashley Di Ciero, Cameron Juha, Jacob Lampitt, William Lee, Dylan Muir, Frank Strini, Zac Strini, & Jye Thompson.