South Esk Swimming Club is celebrating the selection of 17 of its swimmers in the Pacific School Games squad.
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The club trains at Launceston Aquatic Centre and accounts for almost a quarter of the Tasmanian selections.
It is the largest representation South Esk has achieved for a School Sport Australia or Pacific School Games meet in the history of the club, according to president Jayne Shepherd.
“We are delighted to have so many members of our club selected to represent Tasmania at this fantastic event,” she said.
“The Pacific School Games provides a great opportunity for our swimmers to compete against, and meet, some of the top athletes from other states and countries such as China, Fiji, Malaysia and more, which is why this event has been the springboard for many members of the Australian swimming team.
“It’s important to note Tasmania is the only state in Australia that does not have a School Sport Australia member body so we are reliant on someone putting their hand up to support and organise Tasmanian teams for the SSA events, including the Pacific School Games.
“We are very fortunate Swimming Tasmania has provided the administration support for our Tasmanian swimmers for the past few years. Their support, together with the families of selected team members, allows our swimmers the opportunity to participate at such an amazing event.”
The games take place in Adelaide in December.
Top tips
A host of Northern athletes feature in the 26-strong 2017-18 Swimming Tasmania development squad.
Selection provides swimmers and their coaches with the chance to attend clinics and work with some of Australia’s top coaches.
Gold squad _ Hobart Aquatic: Jack Evans, 20, Stefanie McCarthy, 13, Sophie Botterill-James, 14; Riverside: William Bonney, 15; and South Esk: Aran Miller, 21.
Silver squad _ HC Swim Club: Michael Boult, 18; Hobart Aquatic: Mollie Bailey, 14, Lauryn Todorovic, 14, Maximillian Giuliani, 13; Riverside Aquatic: Emily Lonergan 16, Thomas Sladden, 14; South Esk: Morgen Hawkins, 19, Kit DeJonge, 18, Fraser Sutton, 16.
Bronze Squad _ HC: Emma Condie, 17, Max Powell, 14; Hobart: James Belstead, 18; Kate Denholm, 16, Jonty Clues, 13, Jackson Devine, 14, Campbell Lane, 16, Ella May, 14; Launceston: Dawson Howell, 15; Riverside: Jack Sladden, 16, Jordan Cooper, 15, Georgia Davis, 16.
Three cheers
Three Hobart Aquatic swimmers broke state records at a time trial.
Aurora Giuliani took more than two seconds off clubmate Stef McCarthy’s 2015 short-course benchmark for the 11 year old girls’ 200m freestyle in a time of 2:20.63 which also claimed an all-comer record.
Noah Kamprad claimed Samuel Curtis’s 2011 record for 12 year old boys’ 800m freestyle in 9:25.62.
And Olivia Nichols set new Tasmanian and all-comer records for the 11 year old girls’ 800m freestyle in a time of 10:38.14.